United announce new stadium plans

Ubik

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Did that thing where the Glazers appointed some people to look at options ever go anywhere, or was that more just pretending to do something whilst in reality not? Are we starting from a standing start or have we built up some momentum behind it already?
 

RedDevil@84

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They would have flown one of the WC stadiums over by a thousand helicopters.
If the WC stadiums in Qatar were dismantled and flown and put back in Manchester, should we call it a new stadium or an old WC stadium?
A Ship of Theseus question!!!
 

Cloud7

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Having an owner who wants to do stuff feels surreal
 

Dannn411

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We should go for 100k instead of 90k. First 100k capacity stadium in the UK has a nice ring to it.
 

Mr Pigeon

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That image deserves a caption competition.

"And then he said something about twisting melons, like this I imagine, even though he wasn't holding any melons nor was he even invited to the meeting."

....shit, I've already lost the competition.
 

UnitedSofa

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This is purely the “Old Trafford” site, rather than the stadium itself. Sir Jim definitely wants that shiny new stadium, G Nev’s quotes even point towards a new stadium too.
 

FortunaUtd

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Did that thing where the Glazers appointed some people to look at options ever go anywhere, or was that more just pretending to do something whilst in reality not? Are we starting from a standing start or have we built up some momentum behind it already?
Old Trafford masterplanners appointed
by
Communications Department
Thursday 14 April 2022 14:30

Manchester United has appointed a team of leading consultants to begin work on creating a masterplan for the redevelopment of Old Trafford.
The team will be led by Legends International and Populous, both of which have a wealth of stadium development experience from across the globe.
Work will begin immediately on developing options for Old Trafford and studying their feasibility, with the aim of significantly enhancing the fan experience.
https://www.manutd.com/en/news/deta...anners-for-old-trafford-stadium-redevelopment

I was thinking the same. We heard it 2 years ago, only instead of "masterplanners" it is now an exciting "task force". And it is not like the ownership has actually changed..
So what happened? If it was PR then, it's likely PR now.
 

Infra-red

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I can't imagine we'll be playing anywhere new for what? 5-10years?

Construction alone would probably take 2-3 years... planning etc. will take a similar amount of time, if not more.
I think Spurs one took 3 years to build but they'd been trying to do it and dealt with land disputes for years before that. I remember them talking about it in 2009 or 2010.
what's the projected timeline for this?
No timeline projected, but anywhere from 6-10 years would probably be about right, based on similar projects. 2030 might possibly be a realistic timescale, if they get their skates on and can get funding in place quickly.

From announcement to opening - Wembley Stadium (9 years), Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (11 years), Emirates Stadium (9 years). Everton's new stadium was announced in January 2017 and is due to open next summer (8 years).
 

Ubik

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https://www.manutd.com/en/news/deta...anners-for-old-trafford-stadium-redevelopment

I was thinking the same. We heard it 2 years ago, only instead of "masterplanners" it is now an exciting "task force". And it is not like the ownership has actually changed..
So what happened? If it was PR then, it's likely PR now.
This does seem a lot more tangible tbf, and I'm more believing that Ratcliffe would want to push ahead with it than the Glazers, who are very much the "fund a study and bury it on receipt" types. Hopefully any previous work can be leveraged to speed things up a bit, I need Fergie to be opening the new Sir Alex Ferguson stand when it's built.
 

FortunaUtd

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Am I supposed to get excited about something we were already told, basically verbatim, two years ago to no consequence?
And before people start with Sir Jim, man on a mission, etc. - yes but unfortunately the Glazers still actually own most of the club, don't they?
 

tomaldinho1

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If the WC stadiums in Qatar were dismantled and flown and put back in Manchester, should we call it a new stadium or an old WC stadium?
A Ship of Theseus question!!!
If it's completely replacing all parts then it's ship of theseus, if it's just airlifting it's original, the wonders of Sheikh Jassim
 

FortunaUtd

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This does seem a lot more tangible tbf, and I'm more believing that Ratcliffe would want to push ahead with it than the Glazers, who are very much the "fund a study and bury it on receipt" types. Hopefully any previous work can be leveraged to speed things up a bit, I need Fergie to be opening the new Sir Alex Ferguson stand when it's built.
I feel the same, but I wonder how much say Ratcliffe will eventually have over this. I am sorry to be a spoil sport but I continue to be very wary of the Glazers ability to sit things out doing nothing.
They may give Ratcliffe the footballing executive post and a DoF, which is by all means very good news in itself, but a new stadium project will hardly be done without their stamp of approval, and money, or am I wrong?
 

UnitedSofa

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Am I supposed to get excited about something we were already told, basically verbatim, two years ago to no consequence?
And before people start with Sir Jim, man on a mission, etc. - yes but unfortunately the Glazers still actually own most of the club, don't they?
This feels more direct and actually like doing something

Talk about pissing on everyone’s parade
 

AbusementPark

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I feel the same, but I wonder how much say Ratcliffe will eventually have over this. I am sorry to be a spoil sport but I continue to be very wary of the Glazers ability to sit things out doing nothing.
They may give Ratcliffe the footballing executive post and a DoF, which is by all means very good news in itself, but a new stadium project will hardly be done without their stamp of approval, and money, or am I wrong?
New stadium could be funded by SJR and any money invested resulting in getting an extra portion of the Glazers shares, well that’s the hope anyway.
 

UnitedSofa

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No timeline projected, but anywhere from 6-10 years would probably be about right, based on similar projects. 2030 might possibly be a realistic timescale, if they get their skates on and can get funding in place quickly.

From announcement to opening - Wembley Stadium (9 years), Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (11 years), Emirates Stadium (9 years). Everton's new stadium was announced in January 2017 and is due to open next summer (8 years).
A decade feels awfully long, I’d suspect at Sir Jim’s age, he wants to be around to see it open and have the team be successful in it.

With teamwork with local council I can see this being built in a much quicker fashion. Think the long time in development was due to the surrounding areas and working with the council to build on it.

Considering United own lots of land around OT & the land OT is built on, I can see the new stadium taking a considerable amount of less time.
 

siw2007

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Sounds very exciting. There will always be an attachment to OT but to watch the team play in what is touted as ‘the Wembley of the north’ on a weekly basis would be special.

We did the consultancy on the area some years ago to little result. This one is different because we are looking at developing the whole area. I hope it doesn’t take very long and we have solutions later in the year. Finding funding for the stadium will still be an issue though.
 

Ubik

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I feel the same, but I wonder how much say Ratcliffe will eventually have over this. I am sorry to be a spoil sport but I continue to be very wary of the Glazers ability to sit things out doing nothing.
They may give Ratcliffe the footballing executive post and a DoF, which is by all means very good news in itself, but a new stadium project will hardly be done without their stamp of approval, and money, or am I wrong?
It's a fair question given the strangeness of the new ownership situation and questions surrounding how it would be funded. Ineos have talked about the £300m and that increasing their shareholding, but that's a fraction of what it'll end up costing. So, hopefully there's some form of press event where stuff like this can be asked, he seemed pretty open last time.
 

AFC NimbleThumb

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New stadium could be funded by SJR and any money invested resulting in getting an extra portion of the Glazers shares, well that’s the hope anyway.
I was a sceptic of the SjR investment but I must say that’s how I think it’ll go. Going off SjRs words he’s not in it for the money so I could see him saying he’ll pay for the stadium [in part] for more equity.

I think this is a chess play, further ingrains himself with the club & puts a further obstacle up in case some outsider tries to up the bids in the future. This project is easily an 10ish year thing, fans are getting excited.
 

Rojofiam

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I do think Old Trafford is really special and surely there are creative people out there who would have insane ideas for a Bernabeu-style renovation...however, I'm not completely opposed to building a new one, but I want it to be unique and interesting, not something that just resembles a generic stadium template.

Any ideas for the new name? New Trafford wouldn't make sense.
 

UnitedSofa

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I do think Old Trafford is really special and surely there are creative people out there who would have insane ideas for a Bernabeu-style renovation...however, I'm not completely opposed to building a new one, but I want it to be unique and interesting, not something that just resembles a generic stadium template.

Any ideas for the new name? New Trafford wouldn't make sense.
It will still be called Old Trafford
 

Infra-red

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A decade feels awfully long, I’d suspect at Sir Jim’s age, he wants to be around to see it open and have the team be successful in it.

With teamwork with local council I can see this being built in a much quicker fashion. Think the long time in development was due to the surrounding areas and working with the council to build on it.

Considering United own lots of land around OT & the land OT is built on, I can see the new stadium taking a considerable amount of less time.
Might be less than a decade, but they need to get the funding in place quickly. United cannot afford a new stadium or a significant redevelopment of OT themselves, so where is the money going to come from? The task force will presumably be hoping to secure public money (enter Seb Coe) - they may or may not be successful. Ineos could pay for the stadium and then lease it to the club or raise the financing (on better significantly terms than United could) and then loan the money to the club? Who knows - at this stage it is anyone's guess.
 

Rojofiam

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It will still be called Old Trafford
I wouldn't mind it. Certainly a possibility if current OT gets knocked down. But if they keep it in some form or shape, the new one will surely have to have a new name.

I think they'll go something like Barcelona's arena is officially called Spotify Camp Nou not that anyone calls it that but the revenue streams matter. INEOS Old Trafford it is, or make some other company pay a ransom for the naming rights.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/sir-jim-ratcliffe-manutd-takeover-30402161

Ratcliffe hopes to make key changes at Old Trafford should he win the race. However, he won't rename Old Trafford for the sake of extra revenue.

"I hadn't thought of that, but no," the Manchester-born billionaire, recently named as the UK's second richest person, is quoted as saying. "That would be heresy. I would not change it. It's always Old Trafford."
 

diarm

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There is so much demand for tickets they could just keep ticket prices as they are for the 70k who already go, and then charge tourists through the hoop for the new 15k tickets.

£100 a pop for those new seats would be £45m over 30 home games a season. Add some naming rights and the additional F&B and merch sales and we wouldn’t be long paying the thing off.
 

MrMarcello

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I wouldn't mind it. Certainly a possibility if current OT gets knocked down. But if they keep it in some form or shape, the new one will surely have to have a new name.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/sir-jim-ratcliffe-manutd-takeover-30402161

Ratcliffe hopes to make key changes at Old Trafford should he win the race. However, he won't rename Old Trafford for the sake of extra revenue.

"I hadn't thought of that, but no," the Manchester-born billionaire, recently named as the UK's second richest person, is quoted as saying. "That would be heresy. I would not change it. It's always Old Trafford."
We shall see if/when possible offers arrive. I personally don't care either way but if it's a means to pull more revenue that can be used for football operations then it's ludicrous to not take it.

Spotify have in their shirt sponsorship with Barcelona as an extra layer of funds paid. United could easily request additional funds for stadium naming rights.
 

RedRocket08

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That image deserves a caption competition.

"And then he said something about twisting melons, like this I imagine, even though he wasn't holding any melons nor was he even invited to the meeting."

....shit, I've already lost the competition.
"As part of this redevelopment we will build a nude statue for King Eric, complete with crown - and he shall have big brass balls" :D
 

MancunianAngels

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There is so much demand for tickets they could just keep ticket prices as they are for the 70k who already go, and then charge tourists through the hoop for the new 15k tickets.

£100 a pop for those new seats would be £45m over 30 home games a season. Add some naming rights and the additional F&B and merch sales and we wouldn’t be long paying the thing off.
Why not use the extra seats to really engage with the local area and charge £20 a go?

With all the food and drink alongside all the merchandise, they'd still make loads.