Some have compared the plans for the new Manchester United stadium to a circus tent, but architect Norman Foster has explained the purpose of the ‘vast umbrella’ surrounding the venue.
Ambitious plans have been unveiled for a new 100,000-seater stadium, with the club now focusing on that scheme rather than redeveloping Old Trafford.
Red Devils co-owner Jim Ratcliffe says these plans would produced the ‘world’s greatest football ground’ and it would certainly be one of the most unique.
Scaled models and conceptual images have been revealed of the new stadium and the area surrounding it, drawn up by architects Foster + Partners.
The world renowned 89-year-old architect has spoken out about the design and how it is intended to operate, not just as a football stadium.
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‘This has to be one of the most exciting projects in the world today, with incredible regional and national significance,’ said Foster. ‘It all starts with the fans’ experience, bringing them closer than ever to the pitch and acoustically cultivating a huge roar.
‘The stadium is contained by a vast umbrella, harvesting energy and rainwater, and sheltering a new public plaza that is twice the size of Trafalgar Square.
‘The outward-looking stadium will be the beating heart of a new sustainable district, which is completely walkable, served by public transport, and endowed by nature.
‘It’s welcoming, it’s open. It’s at the very heart of a new neighbourhood. And then it’s part of the city of Manchester, the fastest-growing city in the United Kingdom, a city, again, like no other. It’s a powerhouse steeped in history.
‘It is a mixed-use miniature city of the future – driving a new wave of growth and creating a global destination that Mancunians can be proud of.’
Foster also set out the ambitious plan to build the stadium in just five years, which he says is half the time you might expect it to take.
‘Normally, a stadium would take 10 years to build. We half that time. Five years,’ he said. ‘How do we do that? By prefabrication. By using the network of Manchester Ship Canal. Bringing it back to a new life. Shipping in components, 160 of them, Meccano-like.’
The new stadium is expected to cost £2bn, although how the club will finance the build is yet to be explained.
Chief executive Omar Berrada said he is ‘quite confident we’ll find a way to finance the stadium’ as it is a ‘very attractive investment opportunity.’
United estimate the stadium and wider regeneration project has the potential to add an extra £7.3billion each year to the UK economy, with the possibility to create more than 17,000 homes and 92,000 jobs.
Manchester United said Foster + Partners’ work ‘will provide a masterplan for more detailed feasibility, consultation, design and planning work as the project enters a new phase’.
When building could begin is also unknown, with co-owner Jim Ratcliffe saying: ‘It depends how quickly the Government gets going with the regeneration programme. I think they want to get going quite quickly.’
He added: ‘Our current stadium has served us brilliantly for the past 115 years but it has fallen behind the arenas in world sport.
‘I think we may well finish up with the most iconic football stadium in the world.’
What do Manchester United fans think of new design?
The innovative and distinctive nature of Manchester United’s new stadium has certainly divided opinion. The architects of the astonishing ‘circus tent’ design could hardly be accused of coming up with a run of the mill effort, but it is fair to say the initial reaction has been far from universally popular…
‘Given the state of things, personally wouldn’t have gone with something that looks like a circus tent, but I am not an architect,’ said one football fan on X.
‘I think it works well,’ said Manchester United streamer Mark Goldbridge. ‘Looks like a circus tent and we’re run like one.’
‘I actually thought it was a parody when I first saw the images,’ said another disbelieving supporter. ‘With the goings on at Manchester Reds these days, I though designing new Old Trafford like a circus tent was a send up, not the actual concept.
‘A design inspired by the Red devil’s trident? Ah yes, the classic play of building your stadium to resemble the club mascot. Brilliant!’ said another fan who couldn’t understand why Fred The Red was so prominent in the blue prints for the UK’s biggest stadium.
‘April fools day came early. The circus tent at Old Trafford. The clowns can’t afford lunch and now want British tax payers to build a clown stadium.’ said another fan who couldn’t help but notice the irony of Sir Jim Ratcliffe claiming the club could go bust Christmas a day before announcing these extraordinary plans.
