New Trafford Stadium – design description

How does the design of a new stadium for Manchester United present itself in a nutshell?

Manchester United's existing stadium, Old Trafford, is one of the largest in the country, but it is increasingly out of step with modern standards. Therefore, at the end of 2021, the club announced intentions for further investment, but then faced a dilemma: modernize the old facility, or bet on building a new stadium?

Leaving the legendary “Theatre of Dreams” was controversial, but there were many arguments that a new stadium would be the better option, especially if it were to be built in the same area – that way the club wouldn't be moving anywhere, and would still be able to perform at Old Trafford during the construction process.

The investment gained momentum after Jim Ratcliffe acquired some of the club's shares in early 2024. A special working group was then set up, and the design office of Norman Foster, a world-renowned architect who comes from the Manchester area, was invited to collaborate.

The final choice was to build a completely new stadium, the concept of which was first unveiled on March 11, 2025. The facility is to be built right next to Old Trafford, which will then be demolished.

The project is highly spectacular: the stadium is expected to hold 100,000 spectators and will become the largest in the entire country and the second largest in Europe. A roof in the form of a light, transparent shell will cover both the stands and much of the area around them.

A distinguishing feature will be three tall spires, which are to refer to the devil's trident present in the club's crest. The whole structure will be given a form reminiscent of a large tent, which will be visible even from the suburbs of Liverpool.

The monumental stadium will become a new symbol of the city and a desirable tourist destination, as well as a major football arena in the north of England. It is meant to reflect the greatness and ambition of Manchester United, which, despite a somewhat weaker performance in recent times, still has enormous potential and huge fan bases around the world.

The plan involves not only the construction of a stadium, but also the revitalization of the entire neighborhood and the implementation of a massive urban development project, expected to create 17,000 new homes and 92,000 jobs. The investment requires the relocation of the huge cargo terminal operating at the site.

According to preliminary estimates, construction of the stadium will cost £2 billion. The work is expected to take five years, although it has not yet been announced when it could begin.

How did plans for a new stadium for Manchester United come about?

Why does Manchester United need a new stadium?

What is Manchester United?

Manchester United is one of the most recognizable football clubs in the world, with a wide fan base estimated at 75 million people. The club was founded in 1878 and adopted its current name in 1902 (the team is also known as the “Red Devils”).

The team is one of the most successful in the country and holds, among other things, a record number of English league titles, although recently the better results have been achieved by its derby rival, Manchester City. Furthermore, Manchester United is among the top of the world's most valuable football clubs.

How does Manchester United's current stadium look like?

Manchester United's stadium, Old Trafford, was built between 1909 and 1910, designed by the famous Scottish architect Archibald Leitch. The facility has undergone many transformations, and its current shape was formed after the expansion of the northern corners in 2005–2006.

Known as “The Theatre of Dreams”, the stadium ranks among the most famous in Europe, and with a capacity of more than 74,000 spectators, it is one of the largest in the UK.

Although full of history and tradition, Old Trafford no longer offers the kind of amenities found in today's stadiums. A significant investment could help the club compete with other giants, both domestically and internationally.

When were the first steps taken to improve Manchester United's infrastructure?

At the end of 2021, Manchester United announced the start of efforts to carry out another expansion of Old Trafford. In addition, the club intended to develop its training base at Carrington.

In April 2022, a partnership was announced with Populous and Legends International to determine the courses of future investment. One of the options analyzed was also the construction of a new stadium instead of upgrading the existing Old Trafford.

According to preliminary analyses, upgrading Old Trafford would cost £800 million, while building a new stadium was estimated at £2 billion. At the end of 2023, Populous chief executive Chris Lee stated that building a new stadium would be the most optimal solution.

What did the plans for investment at Old Trafford have to do with Euro 2028?

In October 2022, Old Trafford was included in the preliminary list of 14 stadiums selected for the UK and Ireland's bid to host Euro 2028, but it was omitted when the final list of 10 venues was published in April 2023.

As one of the main reasons for Old Trafford's rejection, it was cited uncertainty over its fate in connection with plans for a major investment (Euro 2028 matches will instead be held at – more modern for the moment – Manchester City's stadium).

How much influence has the club's new co-owner Jim Ratcliffe had on plans for a new stadium for Manchester United?

In February 2024, Jim Ratcliffe acquired some of the shares in Manchester United, becoming a minority shareholder (the majority of shares remained in the hands of the Glazer family). Ratcliffe is a Manchester-area businessman, chairman of INEOS and one of Britain's richest men.

The new co-owner has been an advocate of stadium investment, saying outright that he would like to create in Manchester a “Wembley of the North”. On his initiative, the Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force was formed in early March 2024 to deal with plans to upgrade the stadium, as well as revitalize the entire area.

The group included former Manchester United captain Gary Neville as well as Andy Burnham, mayor of Greater Manchester, and was headed by Lord Sebastian Coe, a two-time Olympic champion, president of World Athletics and former chairman of the organizing committee for the 2012 Olympic Games.

Who will design Manchester United's new stadium?

In September 2024, it was announced that Foster + Partners will handle the design work for the stadium investment and the revitalization of the surrounding area. The office has an international reputation, and its founder, Norman Foster, comes from the Manchester area and feels a connection to the city. Foster + Partners has previously been involved in the design of the new Wembley Stadium, among other projects.

What events preceded the presentation of the design for Manchester United's new stadium?

Also in September 2024, a mock-up with a preliminary plan for the revitalization of the Old Trafford area was presented at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool. The mock-up also included a very simple model of the stadium. Although it did not show any details, it was circulated in the media and foreshadowed the upcoming presentation of the project.

The Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force conducted a survey of more than 50,000 fans regarding plans for the future of Old Trafford. The results of this survey were reported in early November 2024.

The majority (more than 90%) of those surveyed were positive about the measures taken by the club. 52% of people were also in favor of building a new stadium, while 31% of those surveyed wanted Old Trafford to be modernized, and 17% had no clear opinion on the matter.

The completion of the feasibility study was announced in January 2025. The main issue was to resolve the question of whether a comprehensive modernization of Old Trafford should be carried out, or whether the construction of a new stadium would be a better option, and a decision on this issue was to be announced within a few months.

If a new stadium is built, the venue would have a capacity of 100,000 spectators, and if a decision is made to modernize Old Trafford, the plan was to expand it to 87,000 seats.

When was the concept for a new Manchester United stadium presented?

In the end, the idea of modernizing Old Trafford was rejected, and the choice was made to build a completely new stadium. The decision was announced on March 11, 2025 at the London headquarters of Foster + Partners, where the first renderings and models of the new facility were also presented.

What does the concept for Manchester United's new stadium entail?

Manchester United's new stadium is expected to hold 100,000 spectators, making it the largest in the country, the second largest in Europe (after Camp Nou in Barcelona, whose capacity after expansion will be 105,000) and one of the largest in the world. 15.5% of the capacity is to be premium seats.

The stadium is to be partially dug into the ground – the pitch will be 15.9 meters below the level of the surrounding land.

The auditorium will be covered by a transparent roof, the outline of which will extend far beyond the perimeter of the stands, creating additional covered space around the facility. The distinguishing element of the structure will be three spires, together with which the whole will form a tent-like composition.

The three tall spires are meant to symbolize the devil's trident, which is featured in the club's crest. The tallest of them will receive a viewing platform and will measure 200 meters, almost as much as the tallest building in Manchester (Deansgate Square South Tower – 201 meters). The other two spires will be 150 meters high.

The huge “umbrella” spanning the stadium is intended not only to protect against inclement conditions, but also to collect rainwater and solar energy. Thanks to the tall masts, in good weather the stadium is to be visible even from the suburbs of Liverpool.

What similarities to other stadiums can be seen in the design of Manchester United's new stadium?

The design of the new stadium looks unique and highly unusual, perhaps even like from the set of a sci-fi movie. Thanks to the unconventional vision, the facility will definitely stand out from other football arenas.

However, in the concept one can see similarities with the design of the new stadium near Casablanca, which is expected to become the largest football stadium in the world and will also receive a huge shell with a “tent-like” character. Another stadium with a roof of similar form is the Olympic Stadium in Munich.

What will be located in the surroundings of Manchester United's new stadium?

The plan includes revitalizing the entire area around the stadium, between the railroad and Bridgewater Canal. New apartments, offices, stores and other facilities serving the local community are to be built there, as well as, a re-built train station (the current one has been closed since 2018). A wide promenade is to lead to the stadium from the east.

The assumptions are very ambitious: the investment is expected to create 17,000 new homes, 92,000 jobs and contribute £7.3 billion a year to the British economy.

The regeneration of the Old Trafford area is expected to be one of the largest infrastructure projects undertaken in the UK in the near future and the largest of its kind since the regeneration of east London ahead of the 2012 Olympics.

In January 2025, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves expressed support for the development, alongside a project to build a third runway at Heathrow Airport, a new road linking Kent and Essex (Lower Thames Crossing) and a rail line between Cambridge and Oxford (East West Rail).

Where will Manchester United's new stadium be built?

Manchester United's new facility is to be built right next to its previous stadium, Old Trafford (just a bit west of it).

The entire urban development project is expected to occupy a larger piece of land between the railroad and Bridgewater Canal, and will require the relocation of the cargo terminal located there, making an additional 100 acres available for development.

Operating near Old Trafford, the cargo terminal is a massive road-rail transportation hub operated by Freightliner Group, through which cargo from deep-sea ports passes.

In September 2024, it was reported that Freightliner Group would be willing to agree to move near Newton-le-Willows, between Liverpool and Manchester, where an even larger and more efficient terminal would be built next to the M6 motorway.

What will happen to Old Trafford after Manchester United's new stadium opens?

Once the new stadium opens, Old Trafford is expected to be demolished, although there were suggestions at the early planning stage that the old facility could be retained and, after reducing capacity to 30,000 spectators, would serve Manchester United's women's and academy teams.

What will be the significance of Manchester United's new stadium?

The new stadium for Manchester United, one of the most recognizable brands in world football, is expected to be a symbol of the club's dreams and ambitions. The impressive scale of the building and the original, astonishing architecture are intended to reflect the greatness of the team. The facility is to become a fortress of the hosts and contribute to the team's continued success.

The unconventional design will create a new landmark for the city, enhancing its appeal and attracting 1.8 million tourists annually. The new arena of the “Red Devils” is to be a place that football fans from all over the world will want to visit.

The facility is expected to be important not only for the city and the club – with a huge capacity that will surpass the famous Wembley and become the largest in the country, the stadium is expected to serve as the main representative football arena for the entire north of England and attract events such as the Champions League final or national team matches.

What will the new Manchester United stadium be named?

Regarding the plans for the new stadium, no clear official name has been given. The facility is often described simply as “Manchester United's new stadium”. In a factsheet issued by Foster + Partners, it was referred to as “New Trafford Stadium”.

The club intends to find a title sponsor for the new stadium, so it is likely that the new facility will be given a commercial name.

When will Manchester United's new stadium be built?

It is not yet known when the new stadium could be built, but the time required for its construction is estimated at five years. The construction of the stadium is expected to be greatly aided by its proximity to the Manchester Ship Canal, which is to be used to transport large prefabricated structural components.

How much will it cost to build Manchester United's new stadium?

Initial estimates indicated that construction of the new stadium could cost in the region of £2 billion, although this could change significantly once the project is approved and detailed calculations are made. The club suggests that no public funds will be needed to build the stadium, although it counts on the authorities to help with the urban development project around the new stadium.

Financing details have not yet been announced, but participation in the stadium project is expected to be attractive to investors. The club will also seek a title sponsor for the new stadium.

Bank loans may also play a significant role in financing the project – the investment may be seen as profitable, and Manchester United, as a club with a strong position and real prospects, is unlikely to have much trouble obtaining credits.

However, some point out that the club's financial situation is not the best, and before the announcement of the concept for the new stadium, far-reaching cost-saving measures had been undertaken, so finalizing the budget for an investment of this magnitude may not be an easy task.