Amazing pics show how Old Trafford could look as 30,000-capacity stadium for Man Utd’s women’s team and academy matches
OLD TRAFFORD could retain its iconic look when it is reduced to a 30,000-seat venue.
Manchester United plan to move to a new £2billion, 100,000-capacity stadium on land adjacent to the current ground.
But instead of knocking down Old Trafford the famous old ground could undergo a redevelopment.
The club plan to scale down the stadium to a 30,000-seat arena.
And it could become home to United’s Women’s team as well as their academy side.
Old Trafford could retain its iconic look with the white roof remaining and existing stands avoiding demolition.
That would mean the history remains with statues and the Munich clock and memorial plaque all likely staying in their current positions.
However some structures may need to be knocked down as the area around the ground undergoes a regeneration.
The Red Devils are seeking funding for the project, which they hope to complete by 2030.
The new 100,000-seat stadium could cost £2billion and could require government funding to be built.
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What we know about the 'new' Old Trafford
MANCHESTER UNITED plan to build a new stadium rather than redevelop Old Trafford.
The decision was made after a number of fact-finding missions to other stadiums including the Bernabeu and Nou Camp.
The cost of the project is expected to be a staggering £2billion.
A capacity of 100,000 is expected.
It is felt that a club of United’s standing should have a new state-of-the-art facility.
The new stadium will be built on land adjacent to the Red Devils’ current home.
United are looking to not only build a stadium but regenerate the area of Trafford where the ground will stand.
They plan to KEEP Old Trafford rather than demolish it, and use it as a second venue.
They will scale it down to a 30,000-seater that can then be used for the women’s team and academy matches.
That would mean the history remains with statues and the Munich clock and memorial plaque all most likely staying in their current positions.
The club consulted with 30,000 fans about what to do and believe there is roughly a 50-50 split on staying or moving.
Old Trafford has been United’s home since 1910.
The target is for completion by 2030.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has set up a task force to formulate plans for the new ground, which could draw on inspiration from the redeveloped Bernabeu and Nou Camp.
Man Utd are not the first club to have proposals drawn up to keep their old stadium in tact once a new one is built.
Andres Ibarra, who ran for president of Boca Juniors, suggested that the Argentine side should keep their current La Bombonera home to stage screenings of matches at the new stadium.
His radical plan also envisaged a footbridge being built between the two venues and had the hope that the cheers of fans inside the old ground would be heard by the team playing at the new one.
However, Ibarra was unsuccessful in his 2023 presidential bid which saw ex-player Juan Roman Riquelme elected by the fans.
Man Utd officials have also been studying the SoFi Stadium while in Los Angeles to assess how the area around the ground has been regenerated.
The stadium was completed in 2020 and was part of a £4bn “Hollywood Complex” to regenerate a major area of Inglewood.
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