Manchester United has announced that the club’s new 100,000-seater stadium will be built on land recently purchased from Indurent, approximately 350 meters from Old Trafford. United confirmed the location of the new stadium during the Wharfside Strategic Masterplan presentation on Tuesday, insisting that while the stadium will not be built on land currently adjacent to Old Trafford, it will respect the history and tradition of the current ground.
The new ground will be at the heart of the so-called Stadium Precinct, which will be built for sporting, entertainment and year-round activities, with the new stadium becoming a major landmark in the wider development of Trafford Wharfside. The masterplan sets out a bold vision for Trafford Wharfside, including new and improved public transport links, enhanced rail links and extensive walking and cycling infrastructure. The vision is for the new stadium to act as a catalyst to deliver a diverse area that will create 48,000 local jobs and 15,000 new homes.
It is estimated that it could boost the UK economy by £7.3 billion a year. Colette Roche, CEO of New Stadium Development, said: “The publication of the Wharfside Masterplan marks another important milestone in our journey to create a new world-class home for Manchester United at the heart of Trafford and Greater Manchester’s vibrant and transforming precincts.”
“Together with our partners, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver a destination that will generate sustainable benefits for our supporters, local communities and for decades to come. The proposed stadium site is ideally located along Old Trafford and will preserve the heritage, traditions and match-day rituals that are so important to our supporters, while also providing the connectivity and infrastructure needed to deliver a truly world-class fan experience.”
“We are committed to building a world-class stadium, not just for our supporters, but with them. Atmosphere, affordability and accessibility remain at the heart of our plans, and we look forward to continuing to engage with our fans and other stakeholders as we move into the next stages of design and development.”
Cllr Tim Ross, leader of Trafford Council, added: “We are delighted to be able to announce a masterplan that begins a long journey to piece together what will happen where to bring this world-class cultural and sporting destination to life.”
“We want to create a great place, not just on matchday but every day, and we are looking for as many residents and businesses as possible to help shape this vision through our upcoming consultation process. Wharfside will be a network of attractive neighborhoods where you can live, work, walk, explore, relax with your family, enjoy nature and wildlife, meet friends, eat out, drink, shop and be entertained.”
“We have the best parks and waterfront space, housing including affordable options in a vibrant and diverse neighborhood, new health and education facilities, combined public transportation, and places to walk, bike and get active.”
