Manchester United has unveiled plans to construct a new 100,000-seat stadium adjacent to the current Old Trafford site. The £2bn project aims to be world's greatest stadium when it opens in around five years' time.
As anyone who's been to Old Trafford, the iconic home of Manchester United for 115 years, on a rainy day will tell you, the stadium has been due for an upgrade for quite some time now. Under relatively new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the club has now announced plans to create a state-of-the-art facility that enhances the fan experience while preserving the historic essence of Old Trafford.
The renowned architectural firm Foster + Partners has been commissioned to design the new stadium, envisioning it as the centrepiece of a sustainable district that is pedestrian-friendly and well-served by public transport. The design includes innovative features such as a vast umbrella structure that harvests energy and rainwater, covering a public plaza twice the size of Trafalgar Square, and three 200m masts visible from 25 miles away.
Coming at a time of turmoil for one of the best-known football clubs in the world, with poor on-pitch results, cost-cutting measures across the board, and unrest among the fanbase, the announcement aims to be the first step towards a new golden age for the club, which would start with the stated aim of winning another Premier League title by 2028, the club's 150th anniversary.
You can read more about the new stadium on the Manchester United website.