News on Manchester United’s proposed 100,000-seater stadium project has gone quiet, with reasons for that being explained.
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Plans revealed for stunning new homeQuestions asked of INEOS commitmentNo word on when work could beginFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The Red Devils generated excitement among their fan base when unveiling plans for a lavish new venue that would deliver a serious upgrade on their legendary Old Trafford base. The construction will come with a £2 billion ($2.7bn) price tag.
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Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the INEOS co-ownership group are leading the drive for a new ground to be built. No timescale has been put in place, though, for when United could move into their spectacular home.
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There has been little noise coming out of Manchester on that front, with questions being asked of whether Ratcliffe and Co are prepared to invest so much time and money while the Glazer family still hold majority ownership of the Premier League giants.
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In response to those questions, the reports: "After all the excitement around the big unveil of United's new stadium at the London HQ of Foster + Partners in March, it has all gone a bit quiet.
"That’s because United have entered the rather boring phase of acquiring additional land next to Old Trafford and waiting for the government and local authority agreeing to fund a wider regeneration of the surrounding area.
"Talks are advancing with Freightliner to buy the land currently used as a freight rail terminal to build the new stadium. Any issues seem to revolve around the company getting government help to move to a new location at Port Salford or Parkside. It’s hoped that work can start this year or early in 2026.
"It’s worth bearing in mind that the tent design we saw in London is only ‘conceptual’ but Sir Jim Ratcliffe seems very keen on it.
"In terms of Ineos building a new stadium while the Glazer family are still the majority owners, we can only assume that a businessman of Ratcliffe’s experience would have plenty of safeguards in place before he embarks on a project that could cost well in excess of £2 billion."