A new home for United: £2 billion arena set to become second-largest stadium in the world

Fans have already dubbed it a "circus," an "Arab tent," and "a great stadium for the Championship."

The English Premier League is considered one of the strongest national championships in world football. Clubs from the league regularly achieve significant international success, and England's national team consistently ranks among the top five globally. Manchester United is undoubtedly one of England's most iconic clubs, boasting numerous league titles, domestic cups, and victories in the Champions League, Europa League, and UEFA Super Cup. Many legendary players have worn United's jersey.

Currently, however, the Red Devils are experiencing challenging times. Fans haven't seen major triumphs in years, and the club’s management consistently generates questionable headlines. For instance, on March 11, 2025, club co-owner Jim Ratcliffe apologized publicly to fans for extending Erik ten Hag's contract — a scenario rarely seen in football history. Ratcliffe himself stated, "We are not perfect, and we made several mistakes along the way, but I genuinely believe most decisions were right for the club. I agree the Erik ten Hag decisions were wrong. There were mitigating factors, but ultimately these were mistakes. I accept responsibility and apologize. It became clearer three months later — we made an error but moved forward. We’ve fixed it, and now we're in a completely different place," Ratcliffe told the BBC.

Statements like these seem detached from reality, and it's hard to justify them publicly, especially coming from a senior figure at the club.

In the past six months, Ratcliffe also initiated a massive restructuring at United, laying off over 500 employees. He recently explained these actions: "Without changes, United would have been bankrupt by Christmas — despite my £300 million investment. You can’t be half-pregnant: either you solve problems or you don’t." Such controversial comments hardly reflect well on either Ratcliffe or the club.

On March 11, United officially announced plans to demolish Old Trafford and build a new stadium, described by The Athletic and BBC as "the most famous football venue in the world." The new arena will have a capacity of 100,000 spectators, making it the second-largest stadium globally, behind North Korea's "Rungrado 1st of May Stadium," which accommodates 114,000. The architect for this ambitious project is Norman Foster, known for designing the Reichstag renovation, Wembley Stadium, Apple’s headquarters, and Kazakhstan’s Baiterek monument. Many media outlets joked, "Now it's clear what they were saving for," raising questions about the owners' peculiar behavior — apologizing in the morning, discussing financial troubles by noon, and proudly unveiling grandiose stadium plans by evening.

Later, United shared official concept images and a lavish video presentation on their website, opening with a quote from Benjamin Disraeli: "What Manchester does today, the world does tomorrow." Fans quickly reacted, describing the entire situation as a "real circus," suggesting "Jim decided to feel at home." Others joked about the stadium’s appearance, comparing it to an "Arab tent" or "a great stadium for the Championship," mainly because of the umbrella-like structure covering the arena. Norman Foster explained: "The stadium will sit beneath a giant umbrella, collecting rainwater and covering a new public square, twice the size of Trafalgar Square."

According to media reports, construction will take approximately five years, with completion expected around 2030. The project cost is estimated to exceed £2 billion. The club believes the new stadium and the associated area regeneration could inject an additional £7.3 billion annually into the UK economy.

Notably, over the past decade, Old Trafford has suffered from significant infrastructure issues, including roof leaks that flooded stands, concourses, and even locker rooms.

Published by Patrick Jane
13.03.2025