It's not actually called 'New Trafford' they're calling it 'the circus tent.'
Okay, that's a joke as well but people online are saying that that is what it looks like. And are they wrong?
I also find that that is a perfect name because we are run like a circus.
Anyway, this will be the new home of United in years to come (projected to be ready in 5 years time) with the current iconic and one of the most famous arenas in history no longer being our home thanks to well, the Glazers.
They were the ones who've let the stadium rot and why we're in the this situation in the first place.
The club have said this regarding the new stadium and regeneration of the surrounding area:
"The stadium, and wider regeneration project, have the potential to deliver an additional £7.3bn per year to the UK economy which brings large-scale social and economic benefits to the community and wider region, including the possible creation of 92,000 new jobs, more than 17,000 new homes as well as driving an additional 1.8 million visitors annually."
Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe:
“Today marks the start of an incredibly exciting journey to the delivery of what will be the world’s greatest football stadium, at the centre of a regenerated Old Trafford.
“Our current stadium has served us brilliantly for the past 115 years, but it has fallen behind the best arenas in world sport. By building next to the existing site, we will be able to preserve the essence of Old Trafford, while creating a truly state-of-the-art stadium that transforms the fan experience, only footsteps from our historic home.
“Just as important is the opportunity for a new stadium to be the catalyst for social and economic renewal of the Old Trafford area, creating jobs and investment, not just during the construction phase, but on a lasting basis when the stadium district is complete. The Government has identified infrastructure investment as a strategic priority, particularly in the north of England, and we are proud to be supporting that mission with this project of national, as well as local, significance.”
Omar Berrada: “Our long-term objective as a club is to have the world’s best football team playing in the world’s best stadium. We are grateful for the feasibility work done by the Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force exploring options for the future of Old Trafford.
"We have carefully considered its findings, together with the views of thousands of fans and local residents and concluded that a new stadium is the right way forward for Manchester United and our surrounding community. We will now embark on further consultation to ensure that fans and residents continue to be heard as we move towards final decisions.”
And even the great Sir Alex Ferguson looks to be backing this new stadium: “Manchester United should always strive for the best in everything it does, on and off the pitch, and that includes the stadium we play in. Old Trafford holds so many special memories for me personally, but we must be brave and seize this opportunity to build a new home, fit for the future, where new history can be made.”
Final Thoughts
I honestly couldn't care less about what they're all saying. I don't like the new stadium because it isn't Old Trafford as that is our home.
It is the soul of a football club.
Can you imagine Liverpool not playing at Anfield? Real Madrid not playing at the Santiago Bernabeu? Bayern Munich not at the Allianz Arena?
It just wouldn't be right.
In terms of its looks, Norman Foster is supposed to be some sort of world-leading architect with Sir Jim Ratcliffe even saying that he is the best in the world, so for him and his team to come up with a stadium that upon first impressions sparks ridicule from the online world, it ain't looking good brev, literally.
The three towers are supposed to be a resemblance of the United trident but all I see is Barad-Dur from the Lord of the Rings. The tower with Sauron's eye.
So that doesn't even work for me.
Yes it will no doubt be state of the art and up to standards of some of the better grounds around the world but it won't be Old Trafford. When you think United, you think the Theatre of Dreams.
The amount of history in that stadium, the amount of success and failures, heartache and destruction.
No longer 😔.
I understand that this is probably the best solution but it still doesn't feel right.
Old Trafford has fallen behind because it wasn't taken care of. The Glazers let it rot for so long and so badly that we see actual rats in there. The leaky roof, unkempt facilities and as someone who's never been to Old Trafford, those who have will have more to say about what's wrong with the stadium.
It's clear that United do need a new home and all because of owners who didn't show any care for it over the years. They needed to keep updating and improving it so as to keep up with the times and sort out any issues like a leaky roof. I guess as long as they can make their money, then what does it matter?
And ultimately, that's what its all about: money.
The Glazers had bled this club as dry as they could to a point where they needed to sell a portion of it. Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS came in and saved them by buying 27% of United and taking over football operations.
Whilst the Glazer's overall intention may not have been to sell the club outright despite reports saying this was a possibility back in 2023, I do believe that their main goal was always to remain as owners of United in some way.
I don't think they could've believed their luck when Sir Jim came in with his offer. That was too good to be true and in the end, the Glazers are still here as majority owners and don't actually deal with the football side of things which as we know, there is a lot to sort out.
So whatever decisions INEOS are making with the football side is on them and the Glazers get off scot-free.
The new stadium and area will then bring in more money for the club and this gives the majority owners another way out and another reason to stay at United for many years to come.
INEOS have really fucked up, you know?
Keeping the Glazers was already a sign that I felt this wasn't going to go well.
I do believe the summer transfer window was good and that they made the right decision to keep Erik ten Hag when they did but that is about as good as it gets for me.
Every other decision of theirs has been pretty awful and sometimes makes them look a little foolish (ahem, Dan Ashworth).
If you saw the interview with Gary Neville, he suggested to Sir Jim Ratcliffe what could've been done to not have to take away that £40 000 from the former players' association to which the co-owner said "nobody suggested that."
Pretty alarming that with all those people at the club and having this 'lean and efficient organization' didn't suggest something as simple as this. Even Gary Neville thought about it and he can sometimes come across as a bit of a knob in terms of his football opinion.
There is also no timing on when construction will begin and nor has the government even approved this but you can be sure that in time, this will be sorted.
This whole thing is just not United. It says to me that the Glazers won, again.
Pretty good timing that they put something out that sort of takes away from the protests which actually goes against things like this.
And now that I mention it, I feel like a lot of this news they put out in order to take away from some of the negativity of the club doesn't make us feel better. If anything, it just adds fuel to the fire.
Whether this was planned to be reported today or not, the timing to try and spin some positivity seems a little coincidental in my opinion.
No more Old Trafford then. What are your thoughts on all this news?
Background Image: Man Utd's new 100 000 capacity stadium | Image via manutd.com