Manchester United’s new stadium could look fundamentally different to how it is currently planned to.
Finally a new stadium
For years, United fans have lambasted the Glazer family’s lack of interest in modernising Old Trafford.
The ground has become an artefact of another time and is being further and further left behind with many new teams across Europe opening up state-of-the-art new grounds.
Plans were announced earlier this year by Ineos that they would be building a 100,000 seater stadium that would be viewed as the Wembley of the North.
A striking feature of the plans of the new stadium showed a tent like structure that would cover the ground and significant portions of land around it.
Potential roadblock
United may need to reconsider their original design as there have been some potential obstacles to the idea.
The Daily Mail report that “Manchester United could ditch the controversial canopy that had been earmarked to cover the proposed new Old Trafford after drawing up fresh designs.”
The report goes on to state that a “key part of the plan saw the ground covered by what was dubbed ‘a vast umbrella’ by those involved, which would make it unique.” Nonetheless, the plan was not universally popular and some dubbed it akin to a “circus tent.”
Land issue
The crux of the issue is believed to be that “talks over purchasing land from Freightliner, the company that owns a key area surrounding the ground that had been earmarked for construction, have so far been unsuccessful.”
The logistics company are currently demanding around £400 million for the land United want but the Red Devils had only projected paying around £50 million.
Due to the impasse, “the club are now looking at alternative designs that would require less space. The canopy had an estimated cost of £300m-£400m, although its impact was expected to be mainly aesthetic rather than practical.”
Newer designs are set to be more traditional but the original tent plan is not yet off the table entirely.
Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images
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Alex Browne
Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Proud owner of such niche shirts such as Kleberson, Eric Djemba-Djemba and Gary Neville. Grew up pretending to be Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the back garden, with little success.
