Lord Sebastian Coe has revealed that the Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force has held its inaugural meeting. The contingent are hopeful of resolving Manchester United’s stadium woes by building a ‘world class’ ground.
United announced last month that they plan to build a new stadium which could cost as much as £3billion. The Red Devils intend on knocking down Old Trafford, with a capacity of 75,000, to build a new ground – may that be on the existing site or on the land adjacent.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has spoken openly about his intentions to build a ‘Wembley of the North’, with several options being explored. Coe, who was the Chair of the organising committee for the 2012 London Olympics, is fronting the task force charged with exploring the redevelopment, and he has shared that the inaugural meeting of the group has now taken place.
He wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: “Yesterday, I chaired the first meeting of the Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force to kick off a conversation about how development of a world-class football stadium for the north of England can deliver social and economic benefits for the region.
Watch all the Premier League and Champions League drama unfold on TNT Sports
“At the London 2012 Olympics, I saw first-hand how sport can be a powerful driver of urban regeneration and I am excited to be part of this project.
“This meeting marked the start of a multi-stakeholder process to explore options for the stadium and surrounding area. We are at the start of this journey, and it is too soon to know where it will lead. But we will consult closely with fans and local residents along the way, and keep everyone informed of progress.”
Expectations are building around Manchester of a top-quality ground being welcomed to the area, and Sara Todd of Trafford Council has previously spoken about the growing levels of excitement. She said: “We are very pleased that Manchester United have confirmed their commitment to remaining at Old Trafford, their historic home, and welcome the prospect of renewed investment in the development of a world-class stadium.
“As plans for the stadium and the neighbouring Trafford Wharfside area progress, we have a unique opportunity to truly transform the historic industrial ‘engine room’ of Greater Manchester into a modern hub for growth and a new community, and we want to build on the socio-economic benefits this will bring, particularly for local residents. We are committed to working with the club, local residents and other key partners to develop these exciting and ambitious proposals.”
