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New Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe says his “preference” is to construct a brand new stadium for the membership that may additionally “serve the north of England”.
United have performed at the 74,310-capacity Old Trafford since 1910, however Ratcliffe acknowledged it had grow to be “tired and in need of refurbishment”.
A brand new stadium might be constructed subsequent to the present floor in Trafford Park.
“It’s about time someone built a national stadium in the north of England,” mentioned the British billionaire.
Ratcliffe added the potential mission might be a “catalyst for regeneration” in south Manchester and would subsequently warrant a “conversation” with the authorities about utilizing taxpayers’ cash.
In his first broadcast interview, with BBC sports activities editor Dan Roan, since finishing his deal to purchase 27.7% of the membership, Ratcliffe added: “If it can be achieved, it would clearly be my preference.
“I’d be very excited for the north of England.”
Ratcliffe spoke about the potential for the new stadium to host England games and FA Cup semi-finals, both of which are played at Wembley in London, as well as the Champions League final.
He mentioned there was “vital bias in phrases of main investments being in the south”.
Old Trafford has not been chosen to host games at Euro 2028, and last staged a Champions League final in 2003 when AC Milan beat Juventus on penalties.
Manchester-born Ratcliffe, 71, completed a deal for a stake in the club worth about $1.6bn (£1.25bn) on Monday. The deal includes $300m (£237m) for future investment in the club’s stadium.
Ratcliffe said the option of refurbishment would create an 80-90,000 seater stadium, but it “will not be excellent” due to the age of the floor.
Speaking about constructing a brand new stadium, he mentioned: “Trafford Park is the place the industrial revolution started. If you have a look at that area of Manchester as we speak – solely a mile from the centre – it’s drained and uncared for and components are fairly run down.
“There is quite a big argument, in my view, for regenerating that whole south side of Manchester. The nucleus of it would be building a new world-class state-of-the-art stadium which could take England games, the FA Cup final, Champions League finals. It could serve the north of England.
“There is a bias in the UK in phrases of the place nationwide stadiums have been constructed – they’re all in the south. There is numerous speak about levelling up. HS2 has been cancelled and all that’s going to be spent on the rail community in London. The individuals in the north pay their taxes simply as the individuals in the south.
“Why shouldn’t there be a venue in the north of England for England to play at? Why does everyone in the north have to go to the south for the semi-finals of the FA Cup?”
Ratcliffe mentioned an “an arms-length taskforce” could be put collectively to look into the feasibility of a brand new stadium and that he had spoken to former United captain Gary Neville.
When requested if public funding could be used, he added: “I think, as part of a regeneration project, there has to be a conversation with the national government.
“The north deserves some thought in addition to the south, I believe, if it’s a nationwide stadium.”
Trafford Council has developed a 15-year draft plan for regenerating the area around the stadium, which is set to go out to public consultation. It said the work would create “a high-quality setting for Manchester United as they develop their plans for a world-class soccer stadium”.
Earlier this week the membership, which was consulted on the plans, mentioned the proposal was “tremendously thrilling”.
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