3 months ago
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GARY NEVILLE’S “World of Manchester United” could look a world away from their current Old Trafford home.
Minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is preparing to demolish the 74,310-capacity stadium to build a new ground for the Red Devils.
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MicrosoftFormer defender Neville is part of a task force looking at the future of the site, which has been United’s home since 1910.
Revealing his own plans for the club’s home venue, he told The Athletic this week: “What I want to see is a world of Manchester Utd around that stadium – of opportunity, hope and belief.
“It sounds Disneyfied, but I don’t mean a theme park. I mean where people visit that area and think, ‘Wow’.
“In five, six or seven years, I want United to have the best stadium and training ground in the world, plus doing the right things on the football side.
“That will come again and we’re patient.”
Neville’s hopes have now taken a step closer to becoming a reality after United hired architects to develop Old Trafford.
Foster + Partners have been chosen for the project after previously working on Wembley Stadium.
Their portfolio also includes the Lusail Stadium in Qatar, which hosted the 2022 World Cup final.
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What we know about the 'new' Old Trafford
MANCHESTER UNITED plan to build a new stadium rather than redevelop Old Trafford.
The decision was made after a number of fact-finding missions to other stadiums including the Bernabeu and Nou Camp.
The cost of the project is expected to be a staggering £2billion.
A capacity of 100,000 is expected.
It is felt that a club of United’s standing should have a new state-of-the-art facility.
The new stadium will be built on land adjacent to the Red Devils’ current home.
United are looking to not only build a stadium but regenerate the area of Trafford where the ground will stand.
There had been plans to KEEP Old Trafford rather than demolish it, and use it as a scaled down second venue.
However, it’s looking increasing likely that it will in fact be entirely demolished.
The club consulted with 30,000 fans about what to do and believe there is roughly a 50-50 split on staying or moving.
The club have appointed the architects Foster + Partners to come up with a “masterplan”. The company were behind Wembley Stadium.
Old Trafford has been United’s home since 1910.
The target is for completion by 2030.
Plans for the redeveloped Old Trafford site have yet to be revealed, but AI has predicted how United’s new stadium could look.
Microsoft’s AI Image Generator has imagined a ground surrounded by tributes to the club.
Maintaining features of the current stadium, the AI venue features a plaza for supporters running around the outside of the ground.
Iconic design elements from Old Trafford have also been maintained, as well as a United badge on the pavement as fans enter the site.
Meanwhile, another more ambitious design sees the venue turned into an island with a moat running around the stadium.
Fans would have the option to travel by boat to matches, where the stadium features a curved roof in a modernised design.
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