'It's BIGGER than Man Utd!' - Red Devils chief explains why 100,000-seat stadium plan needs government support amid £7.3bn economy claim

Reports in recent days have stated that a major step forward has been achieved in the plans for the prospective new stadium, with a target opening date of 2030-31 for the ‘Wembley of the North’ if government funding can be accessed to help build the wider infrastructure. The club are thought to be confident that the necessary deals can be done to begin the process.

Roche has spoken of the “once in a lifetime opportunity” which building the stadium could have on regenerating the surrounding areas, amidst claims that the project could add £7.3billion to the UK economy annually and create 92,000 jobs. This is according to a study by the consultancy Oxford Economics, which also found that the development could lead to 17,000 new homes and a projected 1.8million additional visitors each year. 

The United COO emphasised that the project is “bigger than Manchester United”. A Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) – a statutory body with powers to help progress large-scale developments – is in the process of being set up and will be led by chair-designate Lord Sebastian Coe. 

Club chief operating officer Roche told the We Built This City podcast: “It's very early in the journey, but it's an amazing opportunity that we've got, not just for Manchester United, but for the region. Whilst we'll build a stadium that's great for our team and for the club and our fans, it's so much more than that. 

“It’s become a regional project and probably will be one of the biggest in Europe. As such, it's bigger than us at Manchester United. So, we needed to get support and work with a lot of stakeholders across Manchester and central government.

“It's not just a Manchester United vision. It's a vision for the region. It's a vision for Trafford and it's a vision for Manchester, and that's why [Mayor] Andy Burnham and Trafford Council are really keen to work with us.  

“There's no point building the best and biggest stadium in the UK and it being on an island where you can't get to it because the transport links aren't there, or people can't come on a non-match day, or local businesses can't be part of. 

“So our ask of the government is that they support, not the stadium build, but support the infrastructure and the regeneration of the area. And when we've looked at it really closely, it actually ticks so many boxes for the government around their growth strategy. So it's very easy for us to use this as a catalyst to help deliver the government plans.”

The prospective new stadium was first announced back in March 2025, as Man United drew up the plans on the back of the government’s ‘growth agenda’ in a bid to transform the club and its local area.

Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe said at the time: “Today marks the start of an incredibly exciting journey to the delivery of what will be the world’s greatest football stadium, at the centre of a regenerated Old Trafford. 

“Our current stadium has served us brilliantly for the past 115 years, but it has fallen behind the best arenas in world sport. By building next to the existing site, we will be able to preserve the essence of Old Trafford, while creating a truly state-of-the-art stadium that transforms the fan experience, only footsteps from our historic home. 

“Just as important is the opportunity for a new stadium to be the catalyst for social and economic renewal of the Old Trafford area, creating jobs and investment, not just during the construction phase, but on a lasting basis when the stadium district is complete. The Government has identified infrastructure investment as a strategic priority, particularly in the north of England, and we are proud to be supporting that mission with this project of national, as well as local, significance.”

The new stadium and wider infrastructure could be a true game-changer for areas of under-development in the area surrounding Old Trafford, with a world-class stadium serving as the catalyst for a booming sports, entertainment and business district which could lead to unprecedented growth for local businesses and workers.

This goes beyond the desire for an updated Old Trafford stadium and the need to fix the famous ‘leaks’ in the roof – the new stadium would go one further by providing a canopy surrounding the ground to protect fans from Manchester’s infamous weather – the ambitious development plans reflect a wish to bring the club and its surrounding area into the future and into a new, modernised chapter. The new ground has even been touted as an option to host the 2035 Women's World Cup final.

It might, ultimately, be such changes off the pitch which could lead to improvement on it. The idea that United as a club have struggled to move on from the Sir Alex Ferguson era has been as much reflected by a lack of modernisation off the pitch as it has been by a twelve-year lack of inspiration on it, and a five-year plan to secure a new, state-of-the-art stadium to transform the entire local area might be just the aspiration the club needs.