Manchester United could reduce Old Trafford to a 30,000-capacity venue for women’s and youth games if it builds a new home ground, under plans being considered by club officials.
According to reports, Old Trafford would not be demolished even if Manchester United was to build a new venue on land next to the existing stadium. The existing 74,000-capacity stadium could eventually be reduced in size and host other teams from within the club, with the women’s team currently playing 15 miles away in the town of Leigh.
It is believed that minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants a decision to be made about the club’s future home by December 2024.
Ratcliffe’s favoured plan is to construct a new 100,000-seat stadium, which would cost in the region of £2bn and take six years to complete. However, the club could opt to redevelop the existing Old Trafford.
Task Force considers stadium options
Earlier this year, United created the Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force to explore options for the redevelopment of the stadium. The task force includes World Athletics president and London 2012 chair Sebastian Coe, Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, and former United player Gary Neville.
Ratcliffe has previously set out his vision for a 100,000-capacity stadium for the club that would rival the revamped Estadio Santiago Bernabéu and Spotify Camp Nou. Ratcliffe completed a deal for a minority stake in United back in February and is overseeing the club’s football operations.
In May, Ratcliffe gave his backing to the case for public money to help fund the club’s ‘Wembley of the North’ plan. United has stressed the potential social and economic benefits the project would have on the local region.
United is said to prefer building a new stadium on land adjacent to Old Trafford as it would allow the club to continue playing at its current home while the project is carried out. A rebuild of Old Trafford would result in a major drop in revenue as the stadium would need to operate at a reduced capacity during renovation.
