Jim Ratcliffe plans Old Trafford demolition as first Man Utd task

Jim Ratcliffe already owns 25% of Manchester United's shares. Having been confirmed, he has some homework to do. First of all, to take charge of Old Trafford. 'The Telegraph' explained that those in charge of the stadium redevelopment project have urged Ratcliffe, and the Glazers, to demolish it and build a new stadium.

“We’ve done the work with Legends to look at all the feasibility options, multiple different versions of renovations of Old Trafford and also what a new build could potentially look like, all of it focused on how we can create an amazing fan experience. Manchester United are very focused on that,” said Chris Lee, chief executive of Populus.

Old Trafford has been waiting for a year to be redeveloped, the wait until Ratcliffe has finally bought the club's shares. For the time being, the new owner has pledged an investment of 273 million euros to modernise the club's infrastructure, including Old Trafford.

“The building is reaching the end of its natural life – the cabling, the electricity supplies, everything is nearing its sell by date. And the interiors are very cramped and difficult in places. I would say updating is crucial not just to maintain the club’s position, but just to keep the place functional,” added Lee.

Sources close to Ratcliffe, according to 'The Telegraph', said that a "very detailed analysis" of what needs to be done at the Red Devil stadium would have to be carried out and that the budget would be increased in the future.

 

December 26, 2023