REVEALED: Fly-through video and images of how Man Utd’s new 100,000-seater stadium will look

Manchester United has thrown its support behind the Government’s growth agenda by announcing its intention to pursue a new 100,000-seater stadium as the centrepiece of the regeneration of the Old Trafford area.

The stadium, and wider regeneration project, have the potential to deliver an additional £7.3bn per year to the UK economy which brings large-scale social and economic benefits to the community and wider region, including the possible creation of 92,000 new jobs, more than 17,000 new homes as well as driving an additional 1.8 million visitors annually.

Conceptual images and scaled models of what the new stadium and surrounding area could look like were unveiled on Tuesday by Foster + Partners, the architecture group appointed to design the stadium district. These will provide a masterplan for more detailed feasibility, consultation, design and planning work as the project enters a new phase.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, co-owner of Manchester United, said: “Today marks the start of an incredibly exciting journey to the delivery of what will be the world’s greatest football stadium, at the centre of a regenerated Old Trafford.“Our current stadium has served us brilliantly for the past 115 years, but it has fallen behind the best arenas in world sport. By building next to the existing site, we will be able to preserve the essence of Old Trafford, while creating a truly state-of-the-art stadium that transforms the fan experience, only footsteps from our historic home.

“Just as important is the opportunity for a new stadium to be the catalyst for social and economic renewal of the Old Trafford area, creating jobs and investment, not just during the construction phase, but on a lasting basis when the stadium district is complete. The Government has identified infrastructure investment as a strategic priority, particularly in the north of England, and we are proud to be supporting that mission with this project of national, as well as local, significance.”

Omar Berrada, chief executive of Manchester United, said: “Our long-term objective as a club is to have the world’s best football team playing in the world’s best stadium. We are grateful for the feasibility work done by the Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force exploring options for the future of Old Trafford.”We have carefully considered its findings, together with the views of thousands of fans and local residents and concluded that a new stadium is the right way forward for Manchester United and our surrounding community. We will now embark on further consultation to ensure that fans and residents continue to be heard as we move towards final decisions.”

The most successful manager in English football history, Sir Alex Ferguson, said: “Manchester United should always strive for the best in everything it does, on and off the pitch, and that includes the stadium we play in. Old Trafford holds so many special memories for me personally, but we must be brave and seize this opportunity to build a new home, fit for the future, where new history can be made.”

Lord Norman Foster, Founder and Executive Chairman, Foster + Partners, said: “This has to be one of the most exciting projects in the world today, with incredible regional and national significance. It all starts with the fans’ experience, bringing them closer than ever to the pitch and acoustically cultivating a huge roar.”The stadium is contained by a vast umbrella, harvesting energy and rainwater, and sheltering a new public plaza that is twice the size of Trafalgar Square. The outward-looking stadium will be the beating heart of a new sustainable district, which is completely walkable, served by public transport, and endowed by nature. It is a mixed-use miniature city of the future – driving a new wave of growth and creating a global destination that Mancunians can be proud of.”

Lord Sebastian Coe, chair of the Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force, said: “Today marks an important step forward in what I firmly believe can be the biggest and most exciting urban regeneration project in the UK since the 2012 London Olympics. I am proud to have helped lay the groundwork as chair of the Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force over the past year and would like to thank my fellow members for their contributions.”Our exploratory work is now complete, and we will hand over responsibility to Manchester United for delivery of the stadium, and the Mayoral Development Corporation to drive forward the wider regeneration.”

Andy Burnham, mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “Our common goal on the Task Force has been to try to unlock the full power of the club for the benefit of its supporters and for Greater Manchester as a whole – creating thousands of new homes and jobs. If we get this right, the regeneration impact could be bigger and better than London 2012. Manchester United could, and indeed should, have the best football stadium in the world.”To me, that means a stadium that is true to the traditions of the club, affordable to all, with nobody priced out, and a stadium that sets new standards in the game globally. I believe this vision can be realised, and if so, the benefits for Greater Manchester, the north west and the country will be huge.”

🗣️ Lord Norman Foster says the design for Manchester United’s new stadium aims to brings fans “close to the pitch” and confirms the target is to build in five years. 2030 is the initial target and no later than 2032.🏟️

🎥 @ManUtd pic.twitter.com/7GvOT0cmCZ

— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) March 11, 2025

Fans reacted to the fly through video and images of how Man Utd’s new 100,000-seater stadium will look…

@Topfourtiers: Looks nothing like a football ground – OT one of the best in the world in terms of character. Sold your souls.

@RealMattLeggett: Absolutely stunning project – it’s like The o2 & Wembley in one. People will inevitably complain about how it looks – but then they’d also complain if it looked like every other stadium built in the last 20 years United have – and should always have – a unique home #MUFC

@MattRyan_96: What in the Butlins tent is going on here?

@DavidKemp38: Genuinely feel sick, hate everything about this and what the future looks like. Going to soak up as much of OT as I can over the next couple of years and then call it a day.

@KerryKez7: No atmosphere & the local community ok then I like to see it when it happens I’ve lived here my whole life & u don’t get nothing u should plus the Trafford Council have only taken years to start putting things right & they will still mess it up mark my words #mufc 🏟️🇾🇪🤬

@Im_RobM: So #MUFC have £700m worth of debt, but are getting a new, government funded stadium. Once the stadium is built and they start getting 100k attendances every week, that will all go into the club, boosting their finances and their PSR compliance. Seems fair.

@Wilkinsongbird: 🤢🤢🤢🤢 I do not give a shit about United but Old Trafford is probably the only admirable things about them nowadays. All these clubs binning off their grounds filled with history and memories, for soulless and sanitised arenas absolutely honks

@G_mble9: What the FUCK is that, looks like something off the Jetsons 😂

@SeanRosney: Fold the fucking club, tourist attraction shite 🤢 what the fuck happened to just going to watch the football?

@MomasThorgan: People use the phrase “games gone” as a bit of a joke but seriously, look at the fucking state of this. It’s genuinely sad to see the way footballs ended up. Just building an area that football will be played in – it’s not a “Football Stadium”. Gary Neville can fuck off too.

@CommitteeFCUM: Demolishing one of the world’s most iconic stadiums for an unaffordable Gary Neville construction project it seems. How is this even remotely realistic while hundreds of staff are losing jobs? We know who will have to pay for this. United fans through yet more ticket price rises

@tinscognito__: On Monday Gary Neville fearless journalist interviews oligarch demanding answers over the ruinous handling of a historic institution and the horrible treatment of long serving and loyal staff. On Tuesday Gary Neville lends his voice to oligarch propaganda.