Manchester United Advance Plans for 100,000-Seat Stadium
The short version
- Manchester United are pursuing a new 100,000-seat stadium next to Old Trafford, estimated at £2 billion.
- Part of the council's public consultation process has been completed ahead of a planning application.
- Consultation sessions since July were held at Trafford Town Hall, Media City, Gorse Hill Studios and Metro Sports Club.
- Foster and Partners have reportedly been selected as lead architects.
- INEOS made the new stadium a priority after taking over in 2024; Sir Jim Ratcliffe calls it a 'Wembley of the North'.
A public consultation stage has been completed as the club moves closer to seeking planning permission for a new arena beside Old Trafford.
Manchester United have moved a step closer to building a new 100,000-seat ground alongside their existing Old Trafford home, according to The Sun. The club completed part of the local council's public consultation process, viewed as a key requirement before a formal planning application can be submitted.
The project has been a priority since INEOS assumed control of the club in 2024, when a task force was created to study the feasibility of a new arena. The group concluded that constructing a fresh 100,000-seater next to the current 75,000-capacity stadium was the best path. Sir Jim Ratcliffe has framed the venue as a northern rival to Wembley, while Foster and Partners have reportedly been chosen as lead architects. Estimates put the cost of the scheme at around £2 billion.
Progress has not been straightforward, with land acquisition issues causing delays before being resolved earlier this year. Since July, consultation sessions for residents have taken place at Trafford Town Hall, Media City, Gorse Hill Studios and Metro Sports Club, with additional feedback gathered online. Club officials attended every session, and the talks are believed to have left the plans broadly on track.