Mayor Andy Burnham asserts that with the redevelopment of the Old Trafford area, Manchester would indisputably rise as the premier city in global football.
This week, a taskforce, which includes Burnham, was unveiled to investigate potential avenues for the future of Old Trafford.
United aim to emulate the revitalization that the eastern part of Manchester has undergone since City relocated to the Etihad Stadium in 2003.
Burnham says “no city would come close” to Manchester.
“You could make an argument that this is the biggest city in world football [now] because of the two clubs we have got within it,” Burnham told BBC Sport’s Simon Stone.
“If the ambitious vision comes through, either refurbished or new build, there would be no doubt about that.”
The taskforce, intentionally excluding any club officials, will be overseen by Lord Coe.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, a co-owner of the club, has indicated his inclination towards constructing a completely new stadium adjacent to Manchester United’s existing Old Trafford Stadium. Council leaders have shown support for the club’s proposals to revitalize the area.
Expected to deliver its recommendations in the latter part of 2024, the taskforce is exploring both possibilities: constructing a new stadium or undertaking a redevelopment. Burnham is of the opinion that either choice would position Manchester as a focal point in global football.
“If on the west of Greater Manchester you have United at the heart of a new campus of facilities that links to Media City and the east of the city you have Manchester City, who continue to build out from the Etihad with a new massive indoor arena going in there, just think about that,” added Burnham.
“No other city in the world would be set up in terms of its football infrastructure to Manchester. No-one would come close. This is why I will give this taskforce everything we’ve got to help because the benefits to our city-region are massive if we unlock them. It’s not for show.”
As part of Ratcliffe’s preference to build a new stadium and regenerate the area, the 71-year-old said the club would have “conversations” with the government about funding.
“It is way too early [to discuss funding], we are not even there,” added Burnham.
“What I have got to do as part of the taskforce in the next five or six months, working with Lord Coe and Gary [Neville] and others, is give all the supporting information to enable a decision – is it refurbished or is it new build?
“In either case there will be some requirement for public funds to be involved because of the train station and the big freight depot right behind Old Trafford, which is an issue as well and something we have got to look at.
“What we are talking about is a complex regeneration scheme that could be the biggest in the north of England in our lifetime, and why as mayor of Greater Manchester would I not want that?
“If I’m honest the more ambitious the club is the better it is for us, because then the benefits will come out to our residents for decades to come.”