Cash-strapped Man United plan to build 'world's greatest stadium'

The stadium will be part of a wider regeneration of the Old Trafford area, with British finance minister Rachel Reeves recently giving government backing for the plans.

IMAGE: Jim Ratcliffe, Manchester United's co-owner, had been open about his desire for a new, state-of-the-art "Wembley of the north" since he became a minority owner in February of last year. Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters

Manchester United plan to build a new two billion pound ($2.59 billion) 100,000-seat stadium that will be the biggest in Britain, next to the existing Old Trafford, the club announced on Tuesday.

"Today marks the start of an incredibly exciting journey to the delivery of what will be the world's greatest football stadium, at the centre of a regenerated Old Trafford," United's co-owner Jim Ratcliffe said in a statement.

The British billionaire had been open about his desire for a new, state-of-the-art "Wembley of the north" since he became a minority owner in February of last year, and the club have been studying whether to redevelop the existing stadium, which has been the club's home since 1910, or build a new one.

United appointed Foster + Partners in September to develop a masterplan for the area around Old Trafford as part of a regeneration project.

The club unveiled architectural designs for the new stadium, which will feature an umbrella design, at an event on Tuesday morning in London.

A render of the area around the new Manchester United stadium Manchester United

IMAGE: A render of the area around the new Manchester United stadium Manchester United. Photograph: Handout via Reuters

"This has to be one of the most exciting projects in the world today," Norman Foster, Foster + Partners' executive chairman, said in a statement.

"It all starts with the fans' experience, bringing them closer than ever to the pitch and acoustically cultivating a huge roar.

"The stadium is contained by a vast umbrella, harvesting energy and rainwater, and sheltering a new public plaza that is twice the size of Trafalgar Square."

The stadium will be part of a wider regeneration of the Old Trafford area, with British finance minister Rachel Reeves recently giving government backing for the plans.

United say the project could create as many as 92,000 new jobs and will lead to the construction of 17,000 homes, and will be worth an additional 7.3 billion pounds per year to the British economy.

Old Trafford has not had any major redevelopment since 2006 and criticism of the 74,140-seat stadium, England's biggest club ground, has grown in recent years, with issues around its leaking roof and recent rodent sightings.