Manchester United are expected to make a decision shortly on the future of Old Trafford.
Two options are on the cards for Ineos and Sir Jim Ratcliffe – to redevelop Old Trafford and expand to a capacity of 87,000, or to spend £2bn on a new 100,000-seater stadium.
Ratcliffe would prefer a new stadium, but that comes with plenty of hurdles including location, planning permission and of course, funding.
The government has backed United’s £2bn stadium plan which involves a complete regeneration of the surrounding area. There are reports that work on a new stadium could begin in 2025.
One of the perks of building a new stadium is that United wouldn’t have to temporarily relocate during construction. However, the scope of the project means it could add a few more years to the projected finish date.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants new stadium built by 2030
Ineos have some ambitious aims at United, although Ratcliffe’s first year as co-owner has certainly not translated into on-pitch success.
Ineos want United to win the Premier League by 2028 – on the club’s 150th anniversary. That is a tall order given that the Red Devils are currently slumped 13th in the table with a broken squad.
However, United’s £50m training ground project will be completed by the end of this season, and a new stadium appears to be on the way.
According to the Daily Mail, Ratcliffe is hopeful that a new 100,000-seater ‘Wembley of the North’ can be built for 2030.
If work begins this year as planned, the British billionaire expects doors to open for fans within five years.
Man United stadium likely to take seven years
Despite Ratcliffe’s ambitious aim, industry experts have warned him that one major hurdle could add years to his projected timeline.
In the same report as above, it states that architects think 2032 is a more realistic target for United’s £2bn stadium project.
That is because it could take “several years” just to get planning permission for the build to go ahead.
READ MORE: Man United take next Old Trafford step as ‘world leading experts’ attend stadium summit
The land behind Old Trafford is considered “key” to unlocking the stadium project. It is currently a freight rail terminal but United are in talks to purchase the land.
It is hoped that United can finalise a deal for the land in the coming months, which would pave the way for the stadium project to begin.
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