by Sebastian Coe will lead a special task force to explore a “once-in-a-century opportunity” to create a new stadium for Manchester United as the centerpiece of a wider regeneration project in the Old Trafford area.
Lord Coe, the former head of the organizing committee for the London 2012 Olympic Games, will chair the so-called Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force, which will be chaired by former United captain Gary Neville and Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester.
Telegraph Sport revealed last month how Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants to create Wembley North under bold plans for a stunning new home for United and could try to lobby the Government for funds.
Ratcliffe convened the 10-strong task force to fully examine how a new state-of-the-art stadium could support the wider regeneration of the area surrounding United’s current home of Old Trafford and drive social and economic improvements for the whole region .
The Ineos founder – who was given full control of football operations at Old Trafford as part of his £1.03 billion deal for a 27.7 per cent stake in the club – believes Coe’s experience in helping to deliver the London Olympics could be invaluable as which considers United. a project of regional, national and international importance.
“Throughout my career in sport, I have seen the potential for stadiums to be focal points for strong communities and catalysts for social and economic development,” said Lord Coe, a lifelong Chelsea fan.
“That was certainly true of the venues we built in east London for the 2012 Olympics, and a project of similar scale and ambition in the north of England is overdue.
“I am honored to have this opportunity to share my experience in support of this amazing and exciting project.”
Ratcliffe is understood to have analyzed the option of redeveloping United’s Old Trafford home or building a new stadium on nearby land. Sources have revealed that his initial conclusion is that a new build is “the best way to truly transform the fan experience and the surrounding community”, a vision which the club’s board is backing a task force which is now exploring.
“This could be a major regeneration project for an area of Greater Manchester which has played such an important role in Britain’s industrial history but today requires new investment to make it successful again,” said Ratcliffe.
“There are more football clubs in the north west of England than anywhere else in the world but we don’t have a stadium on the scale of Wembley, Nou Camp or Bernabeu. We will not be able to change that on our own, and that is why this task force is important to help us seize this once-in-a-century opportunity”.
As well as Coe, Burnham and Neville, Trafford council chief executive Sara Todd, Manchester United Supporters’ Trust (MUST) chief executive Duncan Drasdo and other prominent civic and community leaders will join the joint task force.
Among them are Tom Ross, leader of Trafford council, Eamonn Boylan, chief executive of the Greater Manchester Joint Authority and Transport for Greater Manchester, Anna Bensky, associate director of The Peel Group, Dame Nancy Rothwell, president and vice-chancellor of the National University of Ireland. Manchester and Malcolm Press, Vice-Chancellor of Manchester City University.
The task force is expected to make recommendations later this year and Ratcliffe wants to make sure no time is wasted.
An economic impact study will be commissioned to assess the potential socio-economic benefits of the projects and fans and local residents will be closely consulted throughout the process. 30,000 fans have already been surveyed on the future of Old Trafford.
The task force will also look at funding options for the stadium bearing in mind that while the club has the ability to arrange its own funding for a phased redevelopment of Old Trafford, support from funding partners would be required for new builds and regeneration projects wider.
Ineos has experience in financing large infrastructure projects and a wide range of potential funding sources will be explored. Sources said the club were not looking for a “handout” but could take advantage of opportunities for public-private partnerships to unlock the benefits of investment for the community and encourage the stadium for a wider renewal of transport infrastructure, amenities and mixed income housing among other things.
Ratcliffe wants the task force to assess the possibility of a new stadium of national importance equipped to host international matches and finals that would be a direct complement to Wembley in the south while also providing United with a state-of-the-art home. .
Trafford Council has already announced separate plans to revamp the area around Old Trafford in the Trafford Wharfside Framework. But United want to work in synergy with that project to support the regeneration of the area between Trafford Park and the banks of Salford Quay and support the “Levelling Up” agenda to drive investment in the North of England.
“The development of one of the most iconic stadiums in world football will help attract investment, create jobs and create new opportunities that will benefit not only Trafford but communities across our city region and beyond,” said Burnham.
“Greater Manchester has been full of innovation and creativity for centuries and sport has played a huge role in shaping its past and present. This bold and exciting vision for the future of Old Trafford and the surrounding area can be another success story for our region.”
Neville – a major business leader in Manchester as well as being a former United player – echoed Burnham’s mindset. “I’m very lucky to have had the privilege of playing hundreds of games at Old Trafford and no one can take away those great memories,” he said.
“But Old Trafford has evolved throughout its history and we are clearly at a point where it needs to change again to ensure Manchester United have a first-class stadium befitting the best club in the world.
“While I want the best for Manchester United, I also want the same for the surrounding community. Old Trafford should be a stadium that the whole of Greater Manchester can be proud of and a catalyst for sustainable, integrated growth in a long neglected area of the city.
Ratcliffe believes the north has been neglected for too long
Ratcliffe spoke last month of his desire to correct the imbalance in the country since the south is claiming most of the national centers in England.
“The people in the north pay their taxes like the people in the south pay their taxes,” he said. “But where is the national football stadium? It is in the south? Where is the national rugby stadium? It is in the south. Where is the national stadium for tennis? It is in the south. Where is the national concert stadium? It’s the O2, it’s in the south. Where is the Olympic Village? It is in the south.
“This is all about Leveling Up and the Northern Powerhouse. Where is the stadium in the north? How many Champions Leagues have the north west won and how many Champions Leagues has London won? The answer to that is that the north-west has won 10 – Liverpool have won more than us – and London has won two. Where do you have to go if you reach the FA Cup semi-final and you’re a northern club? You have to schlep down to London, don’t you? So what happened to HS2, which was supposed to be a significant investment in the north, what happened to that? They canceled that. And where are they going to spend that?
“They’re going to spend it on the rail network in London. Northerners pay their taxes and there is an argument that you could think of a more ambitious project in the north that would suit England, the Champions League final or the FA Cup final and act as a catalyst for the south. Revitalizing Manchester, which has a significant history in the UK.”
