Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants to build a new stadium. (Image: GETTY/MANCHESTER UNITED)
Manchester United have been faced with another obstacle in their bid to build a new 100,000-capacity stadium, which has further fuelled uncertainty about the realism of the project. On Tuesday, United unveiled plans to move out of Old Trafford and build a new £2billion home on the adjacent land, touting five years as the timeline.
However, supporters and external voices have shared scepticism about how the club will fund the state-of-the-art stadium at the heart of a regeneration of the Trafford area. The announcement came a day after claimed that United faced “going bust” by Christmas if he didn’t enforce ruthless cost cuts and inject £250m of his own money over the last year. With some of those budgeting measures, including axing free lunches for staff and removing other perks, questions about whether the Red Devils will go through with the plans are justified.
Other factors have sparked doubts, like how there would be little hope of building the stadium if the UK government doesn’t back the Trafford regeneration, given the wider infrastructure required.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has championed mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham’s plans, which promise to create 5,000 new homes and 48,000 new jobs, driving regeneration and economic growth in the area.
However, another hurdle has emerged, which United would have to navigate past before starting the construction process of their new stadium.
The new stadium will cost at least £2bn. (Image: MANCHESTER UNITED)
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According to , United will need to gain permission from Manchester Airport for the project due to the stadium’s design.
Mancunian architect Lord Norman Foster oversaw the design, featuring three giant masts that support an umbrella-style canopy to counter-act the regular rainfall in the city.
The tallest mast is a staggering 200m, while the other two are 150m, and the club claim they would be visible from the Peak District and even the outskirts of .
It’s claimed that Old Trafford is positioned in a zone where any proposed structure standing taller than 90m needs a green light from the airport before being erected.
Manchester Airport is around four miles away from the site, and it is the former workplace of United’s chief operating officer Collette Roche.
The report adds that no talks have yet taken place between the two parties, though, which will need to change if Old Trafford is to be replaced.