Manchester United’s plans for a new stadium in the vicinity of Old Trafford have only quietly progressed over the past year since the plans were first unveiled. Rumors of scrapping the circus tent idea have been about the only thing close to an update until this week, when it was widely reported that the club and city government want the plans to move ahead for construction with the stadium ready in time for the 2035 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which the United Kingdom is putting together a strong bid for.
The club confirmed its commitment to the bid on Friday in an official statement
Advertisement
“We are proud to be part of the rich sporting and cultural fabric of Trafford, and the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2035 is a brilliant opportunity for us to showcase our home to the rest of the world,” said United’s Chief Operating Officer Collette Roche. “Our ambition is to build a new 100,000-seater stadium fit to host the biggest international football games. This will be part of a wider regeneration of the area around Old Trafford, with far-reaching benefits for the local community, Greater Manchester and surrounding region.
“We also want to be a leader in the growth of women’s football, in our own neighbourhood and around the world. All these objectives come together in Trafford’s bid to be a host city for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2035, and we are looking forward to working with our partners in making this incredibly exciting vision a reality.”
Manchester is one of 16 proposed host cities as part of the joint bid from England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The new Old Trafford stadium would be one of the premier stadiums in the country, even bigger than the new Wembley Stadium, which holds more than 90,000 spectators. Now, with an official timeline, fans can expect fast-moving news on the plans and logistics for the project within the next few years.
