- The Red Devils have commissioned Oxford Economics to carry out an evaluation
- If they become reality, the plans will bring huge growth to the area
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Manchester United’s redevelopment of Trafford Park – with a new stadium at its heart – could generate £7.3BILLION a year for the UK economy.
The Premier League giants, who want to build a state-of-the-art 100,000-capacity stadium at the centre of a major transformation project, have commissioned Oxford Economics to carry out an assessment of the tax implications of their proposals.
And the global consultancy concluded that if the plans were to become reality, they would deliver huge growth, including 92,000 new jobs, 17,000 new homes and 1.8 million visitors a year to the area.
Mail Sport understands that United have not and will not apply for government funding for the stadium. The club wants a public-private partnership to focus on infrastructure and wider regeneration, with an immediate emphasis on transport.
The club’s directors attended the Labour Party conference in the home city of their biggest rivals, Liverpool, on Monday.
Manchester United’s Trafford Park renovation could be worth billions to the British economy (pictured: initial designs for a new Old Trafford unveiled at the Labour Party conference)
A video has been produced outlining the potential benefits of the club’s ambitious plan
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham and his fellow regeneration taskforce member Gary Neville presented a model and exhibition to onlookers of what the project aims to achieve and what it could look like. A video, obtained by Post Sportwas also shown.
The message to delegates was that the plan, which will either build a brand new £2bn stadium on the site or transform Old Trafford, will give a huge boost to an area that stretches from United’s home ground to the BBC’s MediaCity base across the water.
Burnham focused on the benefits that would arise if the freight terminal were moved to the site behind Stretford End.
“What you have here is a huge potential to fix the rail system of the North West of England,” he said. “It’s an incredible opportunity that’s in front of us and Manchester United has created the catalyst to try and realise all of those benefits.” If the terminal were to be relocated, it could create a major transport hub for the area.
“It’s a hugely important thing, not just for Manchester United but beyond,” Neville added. “I think Manchester United has one of the most powerful voices in the world, even though it’s just a football club, as crazy as that sounds.
‘The impact that Manchester United should make on and off the pitch should be significant and this is the start of it. I’ve been tearing my hair out for the last 10 to 12 years thinking that 20 years ago Manchester United had the best stadium in the world, the best training ground in the world, one of the best teams in world football.
“Of course that came to an end, but the arrival of new ownership has been a catalyst for what we can change.”
United wants to build an ultra-modern 100,000-seater stadium to replace Old Trafford (above)
A rendering of the proposals shows United supporters outside a new stadium
Gary Neville (left) and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham (right), both on the regeneration taskforce, focus on the benefits of the plans during their speech in Liverpool
United recently announced Foster + Partners as lead architect for the project, which is being called the Stadium District.
They will formulate proposals on how the land surrounding the stadium can be used as a growth area for sports, housing, entertainment, businesses and an educational campus.
Once completed, Oxford Economics’ work will feed into the Task Force’s final recommendations.