Manchester United has announced that a decision on whether to redevelop Old Trafford or build a new stadium will be made by the summer. What will be the capacity of the stadium in the future?

87,000 or 100,000?

Initially, the decision was expected by the end of 2024, but the club has stated that the final verdict will be reached before the end of the current season. According to the club’s statement, the Old Trafford Regeneration Team has completed its feasibility study, determining that the current stadium’s capacity could be expanded to 87,000 seats through redevelopment, while a new stadium could have a significantly larger capacity of up to 100,000 fans.

The project aligns with a broader mission

Our vision is to create a world-class stadium that will serve as a catalyst for the wider regeneration of the renewed Trafford Park. Preliminary findings suggest that this could generate an additional £7.3 billion in gross value added for the UK economy and over 90,000 jobs, the club announced, noting that a majority (52%) of surveyed fans expressed support for the construction of a new stadium.

Following the publication of the Options Report, Trafford Council and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) will discuss the potential benefits of establishing a Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) to assist with the project. An MDC is a statutory body that can facilitate large-scale developments, including mixed-use regeneration, transformative urban extensions, and new settlements. It would have the power to acquire and develop land and introduce new infrastructure—laying the groundwork for an ambitious regeneration project in line with Greater Manchester's broader growth mission.

© Manchester Fire (cc: by-nc) | Old Trafford could reach a capacity of up to 100,000 seats in the future.