Manchester United reveal location for proposed 100000-seat stadium

Manchester United have confirmed the proposed location for their new 100,000-seat stadium, advancing plans to create the largest football ground in the UK as part of the regeneration of Trafford Wharfside.The new venue would be built around 350 metres north-west of Old Trafford and sit at the centre of a planned Stadium District designed for sport, entertainment and year-round activity.Collette Roche, Manchester United chief executive for new stadium development, said: “The publication of the Wharfside Masterplan marks another significant milestone in our journey to create a new world-class home for Manchester United at the heart of a vibrant and transformational district for Trafford and Greater Manchester.“Together with our partners, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver a destination that creates lasting benefits for supporters, local communities and the wider region for decades to come.”The location is intended to allow United to preserve existing matchday routines and the heritage of Old Trafford while creating a larger and more commercially capable stadium.The club said the proposed site would also provide the transport links and surrounding infrastructure needed for a world-class fan experience.Roche said: “The proposed stadium site is ideally located alongside Old Trafford, enabling us to preserve the heritage, traditions and matchday rituals that are so important to our supporters, while also providing the connectivity and infrastructure required to deliver a truly world-class fan experience.“We are committed to building a world-class stadium with our supporters, not simply for them. Atmosphere, affordability and accessibility will remain at the heart of our plans, and we look forward to continuing our engagement with fans and other stakeholders as we move into the next phase of design and development.”The stadium would form the flagship element of a 150-hectare regeneration programme backed by Trafford Council, the Old Trafford Regeneration Mayoral Development Corporation, Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Transport for Greater Manchester.The masterplan includes new and improved public transport, enhanced rail connectivity and extensive walking and cycling infrastructure.The wider Trafford Wharfside vision includes 15,000 new homes, 48,000 local jobs and mixed-use development across residential, leisure, commercial, community and public spaces.The project has been presented as having the potential to contribute £7.3bn per year to the UK economy.A 100,000-seat venue would give United a major increase in matchday, hospitality, retail and event inventory compared with Old Trafford’s current capacity of around 74,000.The commercial upside is central to the club’s stadium strategy, with a larger modern venue expected to support premium seating, non-matchday events, food and beverage growth and global partner activation.The proposed Stadium District is intended to operate beyond football, creating a destination capable of hosting entertainment, cultural activity and community use throughout the year.Trafford Council leader Tom Ross said: “We are delighted to introduce the masterplan which starts a long journey to piece together what could happen where, to bring this world-class cultural and sporting destination to life.“We want to create a great place to be, not just on matchdays but every day, and we’re looking for as many residents and businesses as possible to help us to shape this vision, through our forthcoming consultation process.”The masterplan also includes affordable housing, parks, waterside spaces, health and education facilities and improved public realm around the stadium district.Ross said: “Wharfside will become a network of attractive neighbourhoods in which to live, work, wander, explore, relax with family, enjoy nature and wildlife, meet friends, eat out, have a drink, shop and be entertained.“It will have the best of parks and waterside spaces, housing including affordable options in vibrant and diverse localities, new health and educational facilities, joined up public transport and places to walk, cycle and be active.”The proposed stadium location is another major step in United’s long-running review of whether to redevelop Old Trafford or build a new ground nearby.No decision has been made on the future of the existing Old Trafford stadium.United said further details on supporter consultation relating to the new stadium design will be communicated in due course.