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According to the BBC, Manchester United's new stadium plan is hailed as the "Wembley of the North," and local council leaders welcome this vision.
Sir Ratcliffe expressed a preference to replace the old Trafford stadium with a venue that could become a national stadium. The Trafford City Council supports this, seeing it aligning with their redevelopment plans for the South Manchester area. However, MP Liz Patel pointed out that the club should raise funds for the new stadium on its own.
The club's plan is a key element of the Trafford Wharf development, which will undergo public consultation next week. The committee cites the developments of new stadiums for Tottenham Hotspur, Everton, and Manchester City as examples, emphasizing how community transformation and practices that keep fans around on match days can be beneficial.
Ratcliffe told the BBC that the current Old Trafford stadium, with a capacity of 74,310, is exhausted and in need of renovation. He stated that any plan for a new stadium that could serve as a national sports arena would need discussions with the government on the use of taxpayer funds. Patel, leading the council's redevelopment plan, said that proposing a Northern version of Wembley Stadium would be a fantastic plan. She noted, "It is ambitious for the Ratcliffe area, and these plans complement the environment and future development of the area."
Constructing a new stadium nearby might require around £2 billion in funding. Patel indicated that the committee would raise funds for the port plan and believed that the committee played a crucial role in leading, guiding, and ensuring funds. She also mentioned, "How Manchester United funds the renovation of their stadium is a separate issue."
In a Monday evening council executive meeting, Patel gained cross-party support for the redevelopment plan, which could take a whole 20 years to complete. She highlighted that the Trafford committee had collaborated with Manchester United's planning team to design and improve the area for fans as part of the comprehensive plan: Our goal is to create a more family-friendly space that attracts people to stay longer, with parade celebration routes to ensure fans are safer when walking from the tram station or city center, as often happens during European matches. |
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