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Manchester United are reportedly aiming to host the 2035 Women’s World Cup final in their brand new stadium, as part of their ambitious plan.
United’s vision for a grand new stadium
Back in March, United announced plans to construct a brand new, iconic 100,000-seater stadium, that is estimated to cost them £2bn.
During Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s bid to become co-owner of United, the building of a new arena or the refurbishment of Old Trafford were key cornerstones of his proposal. The two options were carefully considered before finally settling on the former.
United went on to release concept designs featuring three masts known as ‘the trident,’ an umbrella-inspired design, and a new public plaza described as ‘twice the size of Trafalgar Square.’
This new stadium will sit at the heart of a broader regeneration of the Old Trafford area, which is expected to be the largest such project in the UK since the redevelopment of Stratford for the 2012 London Olympics. It is estimated that it will create 92,000 new jobs, facilitate the construction of 17,000 homes and inject an additional £7.3bn per year to the UK economy.
Now, a fresh update has emerged, revealing that United hope to stage the 2035 Women’s World Cup final in their future home.
United want to host the 2035 Women’s World Cup final
According to the BBC, the 2035 Women’s World Cup is poised to be held in the United Kingdom, which is the sole bidder.
“The Football Association is working on a bid to present to football’s world governing body Fifa by the end of the year, setting out its vision for the tournament.”
“Club sources say they anticipate the new stadium being open a long time before 2035 and believe Ratcliffe’s stated timescale from his March announcement is still valid.”
“But they also acknowledge the potential for delays around such a complex plan.”
Lord Coe to lead plans for the new stadium
This development comes as Lord Coe, who chaired Ratcliffe’s Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force, has been named as Chair-Designate of the Mayoral Development Corporation.
Mike Keegan reports that this appointment has been welcomed by United, as Lord Coe could play a key role in breaking the stalemate between the club and landowners Brookfield, who own the Freightliner Terminal behind the Stretford End.
United and Brookfield are miles apart in terms of valuation. If an agreement can’t be reached, Lord Coe could “step in” and “force a compulsory purchase order.”
Keegan describes the Mayoral Development Corporation as “a statutory body with powers to purchase land and drive the project forward.” Lord Coe’s contributions will be instrumental.
On the new role, Lord Coe remarked, “I’m delighted that I’ve been asked to be the chair designate of the proposed Old Trafford Mayoral Development Corporation.”
“Throughout my career, I’ve seen the difference that sports-led regeneration can make in fostering strong communities and acting as a catalyst for economic growth. That was certainly true of the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics – and now, I believe, Greater Manchester’s moment has come.”
“Working with Trafford Council and the Mayor, there’s huge potential to bring new homes and jobs to the area around the Manchester United stadium. And looking ahead, I see a chance to bring the FIFA Women’s World Cup to a new Old Trafford Stadium in 2035.”
“The home nations are the sole bidder, which presents a rare opportunity to bid to host the global football family.”
United CEO Omar Berrada remarked, “This is an exciting decade for the region, and we warmly welcome the inclusion of the Old Trafford Regeneration project at the heart of the Greater Manchester Strategy.”
“We are also delighted by the appointment of Lord Coe as Chair-Designate of the Mayoral Development Corporation; the continuity it brings for the wider project will be a huge positive. In addition, Lord Coe’s proven leadership and track record in delivering transformational projects will be invaluable as we work together to turn our collective vision into reality.”
Featured image Christopher Furlong via Getty Images
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