A collaborative task force has been unveiled to explore possibilities for revitalizing the Old Trafford vicinity in Manchester and establishing a new “northern national stadium.”
Among its members are Lord Coe, renowned for orchestrating the London Olympics, metropolitan mayor Andy Burnham, and former Manchester United captain Gary Neville.
The task force also includes Trafford Council chief executive Sara Todd, academics, and a representative from a fans group.
Expected to provide recommendations later this year, the group is tasked with this significant undertaking.
Club co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has recently voiced his preference for replacing Old Trafford with a newly constructed stadium that could serve as a national venue.
This proposal has been embraced by the council as part of its efforts to revitalize the broader Trafford Wharf area.
Lord Coe said: “I have seen the potential for stadiums to become focal points for strong communities and catalysts for social and economic development.
“That was certainly true of the venues we built in east London for the 2012 Olympics, and we are overdue a project of similar scale and ambition in the north of England.”
Mr Burnham said the development of an “iconic stadium” would help attract investment, create jobs and benefit Trafford and communities across the city-region and beyond.
He added: “This bold and exciting vision for the future of Old Trafford and the surrounding area can become another success story for our city-region.”
Mr Neville, who is the co-owner of Hotel Football situated close to the ground, said: “While I want the best for Manchester United, I also want the same for the surrounding community.”
He added it could become a “catalyst for sustainable, cohesive growth in an area of the city that has been neglected for too long”.
A study on economic impact will evaluate the potential socio-economic advantages of the project, with close consultation of fans and local residents throughout the process.