Instead of renovating Old Trafford, Ratcliffe and Manchester mayor Andy Burnham are exploring plans to build a new stadium from scratch in the nearby area. The current state of Old Trafford has come in for criticism from many, as the 114-year-old stadium has been accused of being outdated and not fit for purpose for a club of Man United's stature. No renovation work has taken place on the stadium since 2006, when an additional 8,000 seats were added, as issues such a leaky roofs have garnered some unwanted attention in recent months.
© Imago Ratcliffe's audacious plans are backed by Burnham, who has described the project as something that could be "the biggest regeneration scheme ever seen in this country." The mayor has spoken of his intentions of transforming the western part of Manchester in similar fashion to how Manchester City's Etihad Campus has revolutionised the east area of the city. The Manchester Evening News claim that Man United's new proposed 100,000-seater stadium will be the central feature of a regeneration project that could take place across the entirety of Trafford Park, and building work could begin as early as next summer.
Expected to cost in the region of £2bn, new homes, transport links and commercial areas are also set to be included in the scheme. Former United legend Gary Neville has also been very vocal about the need for a solution to this debate, and he has backed plans for a new stadium, stating that Old Trafford is not at an adequate standar.
