- A working group has found that rebuilding Old Trafford would be limited to 87,000 people.
- Premier League giants hope new stadium project can start this year
- LISTEN NOW: It's all starting! Is Everton where they deserve to be or are the club's fans deceived?
The prospect of a new 100,000-seat Old Trafford – and the demolition of Manchester United's historic home – has taken a big step forward after a working group delivered its recommendations.
And Mail Sport understands key figures at the Premier League giants are hopeful enabling work can begin on the project before the end of THIS year.
The group, which includes Gary Neville, Andy Burnham and Lord Coe, was tasked with examining whether United should renovate Old Trafford or build a new state-of-the-art replacement on an adjacent site.
It can now be revealed that they have discovered that a redevelopment of the existing stadium, which has been in operation since 1910, would be limited to 87,000 people, while a new world-leading venue would maximize the potential and serve as the centerpiece of one of the largest regeneration projects Britain has ever seen.
While all options remain on the table, United officials will now focus their energies on building 100,000 new buildings.
A farewell to Old Trafford now looks increasingly likely, and a significant moment in British sporting history.
The prospect of Man United building a new 100,000-capacity Old Trafford has moved forward
The task force found that the Old Trafford redevelopment would be capped at 87,000
Man United and minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe to focus energies on 100,000 new build
A final decision will be made before the season ends.
The task force was created after Ratcliffe's arrival and was tasked with carrying out a feasibility study on new construction or renovation.
It has been found that while redevelopment and reconstruction would “provide transformative benefits”, a new stadium would see those benefits “amplified”.
Greater Manchester Mayor Burnham described the proposals as “the biggest opportunity for urban regeneration this country has seen since London 2012”.
“They are an important part of our ten-year plan to drive growth not just at Old Trafford but across Greater Manchester,” he added.
