Manchester United plan to build 'world's greatest stadium' rather than refurbish Old Trafford

MANCHESTER: Manchester United plan to build a new £2 billion (US$2.59 billion) 100,000-seat stadium that will be the biggest in Britain next to the existing Old Trafford, the club announced on Tuesday (Mar 11).

"Today marks the start of an incredibly exciting journey to the delivery of what will be the world's greatest football stadium, at the centre of a regenerated Old Trafford," United's co-owner Jim Ratcliffe said in a statement.

The British billionaire had been open about his desire for a new, state-of-the-art "Wembley of the north" since he became a minority owner in February of last year, and the club have been studying whether to redevelop the existing stadium, which has been the club's home since 1910, or build a new one.

United appointed Foster + Partners in September to develop a master plan for the area around Old Trafford as part of a regeneration project.

The club unveiled architectural designs for the new stadium, which will feature an umbrella design, at an event on Tuesday morning in London.

"This has to be one of the most exciting projects in the world today," Norman Foster, Foster + Partners' executive chairman, said in a statement. "It all starts with the fans' experience, bringing them closer than ever to the pitch and acoustically cultivating a huge roar.

"The stadium is contained by a vast umbrella, harvesting energy and rainwater, and sheltering a new public plaza that is twice the size of Trafalgar Square."

The stadium will be part of a wider regeneration of the Old Trafford area, with British finance minister Rachel Reeves recently giving government backing for the plans.

United say the project could create as many as 92,000 new jobs and will lead to the construction of 17,000 homes, and will be worth