Old Trafford NFL option, naming rights, £2bn bill - the finances behind Man United stadium plans

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has given the recently-established Old Trafford taskforce until December to cost up options and deliver its proposals on what happens next with the iconic stadium.

It is thought that members are favouring a new build, rather than a refurbishing of the current home of Manchester United. Such a construction feat would require several years and several billions of pounds.

However, a new-build is considered more time and cost-effective in the long run compared to a revamp of existing facilities, with hopes that a 100,000-seater stadium can ultimately be erected. While exciting, not all supporters are enamoured by the prospect.

READ MORE: Sir Jim Ratcliffe is doing what Manchester United did in the 1990s with bold £2bn decision

READ MORE: Stunning Old Trafford pictures reveal £2bn dream as AI predicts Manchester United new stadium

In fact, around half of the 30,000 fans surveyed by the club are unsure whether a move away from the historic footprint of the current stadium would befit club tradition, even if a new home was built on adjacent land on the same site.

In terms of finances, though, there seems to be a clear option to take up. Chief Business of Football writer Dave Powell details the cost considerations for both moving and staying.

“The move that Spurs made to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium back in 2019 saw them take on a lot of debt, and some £800m-plus of that still sits on the balance sheet.

“But there is a difference between good debt and bad debt, and having gone through such a major development project at a time of lower interest rates, Spurs’ endeavours will pay off in the long run and likely position themselves to be one of the Premier League clubs with the best spending prospects in