Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United, Sir Jim Ratcliffe
Josh Lawless
Topics: Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United, Sir Jim Ratcliffe
Manchester United have announced new plans for a brand new 100,000 capacity stadium and Sir Alex Ferguson's view on the plans have been revealed.
On Tuesday, conceptual images and scaled models designed by the architect Lord Norman Foster were unveiled at Foster + Partners' headquarters in London, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe weighing in with a statement.
"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," Ratcliffe said on Tuesday.
"Our current stadium has served us brilliantly for the past 115 years, but it has fallen behind the best arenas in world sport.
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"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."
The stadium is set to be the biggest in the UK and is poised to be built on the same site as Old Trafford, which has been United's home since 1910.
It was expanded to 76,000 in 2006 and the possibility of redeveloping the Theatre of Dreams was explored - but the iconic stadium will instead be demolished and make way for a modern replacement following on from decisions made by the Old Trafford Regeneration Task force.
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Fans were consulted and United's legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson has given his backing to the project.
"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," Ferguson said, as per ESPN.
"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."
The project, which could also see 17,000 new homes constructed, could be built within five years and has secured government funding for the regeneration of the area.
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However, in September, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said United are not seeking public money to fund the stadium - which is expected to cost around £2 billion.