Man Utd Chief Exec Omar Berrada Provides New Ground Update
Chief Executive Omar Berrada has given a brief update on Manchester United’s new ground plans. Berrada provided the update in the match programme ahead of United’s first home clash with Ipswich, and the 48-year-old said: “Work continues on our ambition to build a new stadium as part of a much broader redevelopment of our surrounding area here at Old Trafford.”
United unveiled preliminary plans for a new ground, called New Trafford Stadium, in 2025. Headed by designers Foster + Partners, the new stadium will seat 100,000 fans and is expected to cost around £2bn.
Earlier in the summer, the club confirmed they had secured 25 acres of land just 350 metres away from Old Trafford. United had initially tried to secure land behind the Stretford End but struggled to get a deal done and pivoted to the new parcel of land instead.
Although they initially set a moving-in date of 2030, this has been pushed back – club officials remain confident the new ground will be able to host the 2035 Women’s World Cup, however.
A Football Legacy
According to the most recent Forbes list of most valuable football clubs,
Manchester United ranks 3rd in the world, behind Real Madrid and Barcelona. They boast approximately 1.1 billion fans and followers globally and are valued at £5.3bn.
They have been credited, by some, with helping expand the global reach of the game. Approximately 4 billion people consider themselves football fans, and global revenue from the sport is estimated at around £22bn a year. Such is the sport’s popularity, it has become the subject of films, TV shows, and books. Documentaries like Sunderland 'Til I Die or Amazon's All or Nothing give viewers a taste of their favourite teams behind the scenes.
Football is a regular feature in video games, too, and is the subject of
slots and games at online casino UK websites. Titles like Football Roulette Live and Big Bass Football Bonanza use football iconography and symbols to attract players.
Ground Upgrades
Despite United’s wealth and impact on the modern game, they have struggled to return to the halcyon days enjoyed under Sir Alex Ferguson on the pitch. And Old Trafford, despite being the largest club ground in the country, continues to come under fire from fans.
Footage of a roof leaking during the Ipswich game circulated on social media, despite the club
investing heavily in improvements to the ground this summer. New turf was laid for the first time in 14 years, while the perimeter wall was padded to provide safety to players.
After the hospitality area was extended, some season ticket holders were also moved to new seats.
Full details of the new ground have not yet been announced. This includes details of where funding will come from. The plans are currently in the consultation stage, hosting events with stakeholders.
This period concludes at the end of September, when the club will be able to start arranging financing for the deal. Officials have said they expect the new ground to bring a substantial £7bn increase to the local economy, once completed.
