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Manchester United have detailed the proposed location in the latest plans of their new 100,000-seater stadium that will replace Old Trafford, with hopes that the venue will open by 2035.
The ground will sit approximately 350 metres away from the existing Old Trafford stadium in Trafford Wharfside.
It will be at the heart of a new “Stadium District”, purpose-built for sport, entertainment and year-round activity, with United insisting the stadium - set to be the biggest in the country - will be a catalyst for wider regeneration of the whole area.
United stadium development CEO Collette Roche said: “The publication of the Wharfside Masterplan marks another significant milestone in our journey to create a new world-class home for Manchester United at the heart of a vibrant and transformational district for Trafford and Greater Manchester.
“Together with our partners, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver a destination that creates lasting benefits for supporters, local communities and the wider region for decades to come.
“The proposed stadium site is ideally located alongside Old Trafford, enabling us to preserve the heritage, traditions and matchday rituals that are so important to our supporters, while also providing the connectivity and infrastructure required to deliver a truly world-class fan experience.
“We are committed to building a world-class stadium with our supporters, not simply for them. Atmosphere, affordability and accessibility will remain at the heart of our plans, and we look forward to continuing our engagement with fans and other stakeholders as we move into the next phase of design and development.”
The development comes after United cleared a key hurdle by buying most of the land they need to build the deluxe stadium - a 25-acre triangle around Trafford Wharfside.
They are confident they will be able to acquire the rest of the land needed to go forward with the project, the cost of which has not been estimated by the club but was previously put at £2bn.
However, all is not set in stone with Roche opening the door to a potential change in design to the futuristic “circus tent” concept that came with the stadium’s initial announcement.
Roche said: “Is it set in stone? No. We’re going through the design process.
“We’re not ripping things up but, now we know where it’s going to be, we need to make sure it fits in the right place.”
She also lifted the lid on a potential target opening date, which was previously reported as 2030, but insisted nothing concrete can be said until the planning process is finished.
“The design is going to inform how we’re going to construct the stadium,” Roche added. “We’ve got to go to planning, and then that’ll give us the date.
“We just don’t want to make a decision that’s not within our gift right now. That’s why there’s a bit of reticence around the dates.
“The 2035 one is quite interesting because it’s a good milestone. I do think it’s realistic.”
Public money will be used for elements of the wider regeneration project but United insist none will be required for the stadium itself.
The stadium is forecast to deliver around 15,000 new homes, including affordable housing, create over 90,000 jobs nationally, with 48,000 in the Manchester area, and to add more than £7bn a year to the British economy.
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