Manchester United have announced plans for a new 100,000-seater stadium to replace Old Trafford but plenty of fans have doubts about how INEOS would fund the massive project.
The magnificent amphitheater is expected to cost £2 billion but with the Glazers loading over £1 billion debt on the club, there are concerns about how the new co-owners will go about their business.
Putting in more equity or partnership with other firms are an option while Football Insider have claimed that the Red Devils could agree a naming rights deal to raise more than £50 million a year.
The club was mulling over a deal earlier but at that time, the proposed deal would have been worth £25 million but given the new stadium, it is likely to fetch the club double.
Naming rights
“Manchester United could agree a naming rights deal worth more than £50million a year for their new stadium, sources have told Football Insider.
“Football Insider revealed last June United could agree a £25million-a-year naming rights deal if they were to remain at Old Trafford.
“Sources say a similar deal for their new stadium could be worth more than double that figure, with the club likely to receive offers in excess of £50million a year.”
Interestingly, United’s current shirt sponsor Snapdragon had expressed their interest in such an arrangement in the past and they could potentially return to the negotiating table.
Chief marketing officer Don Maguire had revealed last August that they are ‘working very closely with the team on the reimagining of Old Trafford from a technology and innovation standpoint’.
Currently, noisy neighbours Manchester City earn the most among all Premier League teams from naming rights with Etihad Airways paying them around £15 million.
United could earn more than City
The new stadium will be completed within 2030 with 2032 set as the maximum deadline. The architects of the stadium are Foster and Partners.
Founder Lord Norman Foster described it as “one of the most exciting projects in the world today, with incredible regional and national significance.”
“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 design incorporates the trident design from the club logo in the form of three masts that will be 200 metres high and visible from 25 miles away.
Feature image Alex Livesey via Getty Images
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Ayantan Chowdhury
Ayantan has worked for 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites but his heart was always set on writing about his favourite club. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25
