•An aerial view shows Old Trafford stadium, England
Manchester United today announced that they have secured the majority of the land needed to build their proposed new 100,000-capacity stadium.
United disclosed that they had acquired a 25-acre (10 hectare) site close to their current Old Trafford home, reports AFP.
The land purchase is a major step forward in United’s plans to build Britain’s biggest sporting arena.
The triangular-shaped plot 350 metres to the north west of Old Trafford means adjacent land owned by Freightliner will not be required.
The location of the nearby freight terminal had previously been a complicating factor.
“Today’s news highlights the progress we’re making towards a world-class new home for Manchester United and represents a significant milestone as we move into the next phase of development,” Collette Roche, chief executive of the new stadium development, said.
“Being able to build so close to Old Trafford allows us to preserve the heritage, traditions and rituals that are so important to our fans.
“Securing the right land for our new home has been absolutely critical, and the land we’ve acquired gives us the stage to deliver a truly world-class stadium that honours our past and is ready for our future,” Roche added.
United first unveiled plans for their ambitious £2 billion ($2.6 billion) stadium in 2025.
The venue will be the centre-piece of a wider 370-acre regeneration project featuring 15,000 new homes and creating 48,000 new jobs locally and 90,000 nationally.
A master-plan for the Old Trafford regeneration is scheduled to be unveiled on July 9.
United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe said it was a “no-brainer” to rebuild Old Trafford after buying a stake in the club in 2024.
United have played at Old Trafford for 115 years, but the 74,000-capacity stadium has fallen into disrepair in recent years.
