It is stated that the leaders of Manchester United agree with Joel Glazer that an upgrade at Old Trafford is preferable to a total rebuild. After new part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe formally takes charge, the stadium is expected to undergo a much-needed renovation; behind-the-scenes preparations have already begun.
Since acquiring the team in 2005, the Glazers have not been in charge of any notable renovations at Old Trafford. Liverpool and Manchester City have expanded Anfield and the Etihad Stadium, while Arsenal and Tottenham have moved to state-of-the-art venues throughout this time.
According to reports, Sir Jim gave his minority buy-in under the condition that he would spend more than £200 million modernizing United’s facilities. It is yet unclear if the INEOS billionaire’s money would be used to rebuild Old Trafford from the ground up or to restore it to its existing condition.
The Manchester Evening News reports that Glazer and the United board concur that it would be difficult to recreate the charm of their 113-year-old stadium in a brand-new facility.
The Red Devils have been told by Populous, the firm that helped create Wembley and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, that establishing a new home would essentially cost the same as a significant renovation at Old Trafford.
It may take up to ten years to complete Glazer’s preferred renovations, and senior officials are currently discussing the possibility of holding games at Old Trafford with fewer seats while the work is being done.
According to reports, Sir Jim is determined to lead the initiative to build a premier stadium in the north that can compete with Wembley. The 71-year-old is allegedly thinking of submitting a financing request to the UK government as part of their “Levelling Up” commitments.
United would need to pay almost £2 billion for a brand-new stadium, and even a significant renovation would be extremely costly given that the project would likely include the construction of new parking lots, roads, and a station.
During his speech to the Manchester United Supporters Trust, Sir Jim stated: “It will need discipline and the best caliber of professional management, coupled with time and patience, to succeed.
“Like you, we have high goals for Manchester United. In sports, nothing is guaranteed, and things may take some time to change, but we are here to stay, and we want to work together to assist Manchester United return to its rightful place at the pinnacle of English, European, and global football.”
