One of Ineos’ ‘projects’ at Manchester United includes growing the club’s revenue to record levels in the near future.
Since the takeover at Old Trafford, Manchester United fans have had to stay up to date with several sporting ‘projects’ outlined by Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
Firstly, Project 150 aims to bring the Premier League title back to Old Trafford by 2028, the club’s 150th anniversary.
Project Avalon was United’s plan to refurbish and renovate Carrington to a state-of-the-art level.
Finally, Project 90 is an £800 million mid-term financial plan at United, aiming to grow the club’s revenue and balance the finances behind the scenes.
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Ineos are on track for ‘Project 90’ at Man United
To unwrap Project 90, it is essentially a plan laid out by CEO Omar Berrada to grow United’s revenue by £90 million each year.
United are hoping to reach a Premier League record revenue of £800 million by 2028.
The club published revenue of £667m in 2024/25, a new record at Old Trafford. A return to the Champions League in 2026/27 will provide a significant financial boost.
On top of that, the latest Deloitte report in their Annual Review of Football Finance predicts that Premier League revenue is set to grow significantly in the coming years.
They report that Premier League revenues hit €8.1bn (£6.8bn) in 2024/25 and are expected to surpass €8.5bn (£7.4bn) in 2025-26. Record-breaking figures are predicted for 2026/27, with European football in general expected to grow from €44bn to €45.7bn.
United will be one of the biggest beneficiaries after returning to the Champions League. United’s £136m matchday revenue is already the highest in English football.
Under the new Squad Cost Ratio Rules in the Premier League, clubs are allowed to spend 85% of their revenue (70% if competing in Europe) on transfer fees, wages and agent fees. Therefore, increasing the revenue at United will directly result in a bigger transfer budget.
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Expert issues stadium warning to Manchester United
United’s revenue is already growing, but building a 100,000-seater stadium will take figures to a whole new level.
Football finance expert Adam Williams predicted that United could earn £230m per season from their new stadium.
However, the Deloitte report issued a warning about stadiums and ticketing. They argue that rising ticket prices could actually harm a club’s financial future.
The report details “the need for clubs to balance the recurring loyalty of lifelong fans, who provide the atmosphere which makes football so appealing, with the burgeoning appetite for live entertainment, particularly sport.”
READ MORE: Red flag for Man United’s 100,000-seater stadium as Kieran Maguire explains capacity problems
Expert Jennifer Haskel, speaking to The Athletic, spoke strongly about the “balance” in clubs’ matchday offerings. She argued that clubs will need to “improve takings from high-end consumers while at the same time retaining those fans who have gone, week in, week out”.
That is the balance that United must find at their new stadium. Especially with a capacity of 100,000.
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