Manchester United Board Agrees with Joel Glazer on Building £2bn New Old Trafford
Joel Glazer, co-owner of Manchester United, has expressed a preference for renovating Old Trafford rather than pursuing a complete rebuild. Plans for a much-needed facelift for the stadium are in the works following the recent acquisition of a stake in the club by Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
It has been reported that Glazer and the United board share the view that the unique character of the 113-year-old ground would be difficult to replicate in a completely new stadium. The proposed renovation, favored by Glazer, could span a period of up to a decade.
Discussions are underway among senior figures about the feasibility of continuing to host matches at Old Trafford with reduced capacity during the renovation process. Reports also indicate that Sir Jim Ratcliffe is intent on leading the project to create a top-tier stadium in the north, capable of competing with Wembley.
It has been suggested that INEOS billionaire’s investment is contingent on injecting more than £200 million into redeveloping United’s infrastructure. However, it remains undecided whether this funding will be allocated to renovating Old Trafford or to demolishing the historic stadium and starting afresh.
Populous, a company with experience in constructing Wembley and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, has reportedly informed the club that building a new stadium would cost a similar amount to a major renovation of Old Trafford. Furthermore, it has been hinted that Sir Jim may consider seeking UK Government funding to support the project.
In his address to the Manchester United Supporters Trust, Sir Jim emphasized the need for time, patience, and professional management to achieve success, expressing a shared ambition to return Manchester United to the top of English, European, and World Football.
