Manchester United football club has acquired most of the land needed to build its new 100,000-capacity stadium, the 'Red Devils' announced on Monday. The 20-time English league champions said they had acquired a 25-acre (10-hectare) plot of land near their current ground, Old Trafford. The purchase of this land represents a significant step forward in the club's plans to build the largest sports complex in Britain.
The plot, located 350 metres northwest of Old Trafford, means the club will not need the adjacent land owned by Freightliner. The nearby freight terminal site had previously represented an obstacle.
Colette Roche, Chief Executive of the new stadium development project, said: "Today's news shines a light on the progress we are making towards building a world-class new stadium for Manchester United, and represents a milestone in the next phase of development."
She added: "Building the stadium in close proximity to Old Trafford allows us to preserve the heritage, traditions and rituals that are of great importance to our fans." She continued: "Securing the right land for our new stadium was of paramount importance, and the land we have obtained enables us to build a world-class stadium that honours our past and is ready for our future."
United unveiled its plans for the new stadium, which carries a price tag of $2.6 billion, in 2025. The stadium will be the centrepiece of a comprehensive development project spanning 370 acres, which includes the construction of 15,000 new homes, and the creation of 48,000 local jobs and 90,000 jobs across the country.
The master plan for the Old Trafford development is set to be unveiled on 9 July. Jim Ratcliffe, co-owner of Manchester United, said that rebuilding Old Trafford was an "obvious decision" after he purchased a stake in the club in 2024. United has played at Old Trafford for 115 years, but the condition of the infrastructure at the 74,000-capacity ground has deteriorated in recent years.