The new co-owner of Manchester United, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, expresses a “preference” for constructing a new stadium for the club that would also cater to the needs of the northern region of England.
Manchester United has been based at the 74,310-capacity Old Trafford since 1910, but Ratcliffe recognizes that it has become “dated and requires renovation.”
The proposed new stadium could potentially be situated adjacent to the current venue in Trafford Park
“It’s about time someone built a national stadium in the north of England,” said the British billionaire.
Ratcliffe added the potential project could be a “catalyst for regeneration” in south Manchester and would therefore warrant a “conversation” with the government about using taxpayers’ money.
In his first broadcast interview, with BBC sports editor Dan Roan, since completing his deal to buy 27.7% of the club, Ratcliffe added: “If it can be achieved, it would clearly be my preference.
“I would be very excited for the north of England.”
Ratcliffe discussed the possibility of the new stadium hosting England matches, FA Cup semi-finals, and even the Champions League final, which are currently held at Wembley Stadium in London.
He pointed out a “significant bias” towards major investments being focused in the southern regions of England.
Notably, Old Trafford was not selected as a venue for Euro 2028 matches, and the last time it hosted a Champions League final was in 2003, when AC Milan triumphed over 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 “won’t be perfect” because of the age of the ground.
Speaking about building a new stadium, he said: “Trafford Park is where the industrial revolution began. If you look at that region of Manchester today – only a mile from the centre – it is tired and neglected and parts are quite 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 terms of where national stadiums have been built – they are all in the south. There is a lot of talk about levelling up. HS2 has been cancelled and all that is going to be spent on the rail network in London. The people in the north pay their taxes just as the people 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 the formation of an “arms-length taskforce” to examine the viability of a new stadium, noting that he had engaged in discussions with former Manchester United captain Gary Neville.
In response to inquiries regarding potential public funding, he remarked, “I believe that, as part of a regeneration initiative, it’s necessary to engage in discussions with the national government.”
“The north deserves some thought as well as the south, I think, if it is a national 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 football stadium”.
Earlier this week the club, which was consulted on the plans, said the proposal was “tremendously exciting”.