Former Man United winger concerned about “edgy” concept for new £2bn stadium amid “circus” fears (exclusive)

It has now been more than a year since Manchester United first unveiled plans for a new 100,000-seater stadium at Old Trafford, and although there is still plenty of work to do until construction can begin, the prospect of a new ‘Wembley of the North' is very real.

Fans and former players alike have offered their views on the project over the past year, and former United winger Lee Sharpe has become the latest in an exclusive interview with FGG.

Sharpe not sold on circus design

In the original concept art released by Manchester United back in March 2025, the most striking design element was the circus tent-like canopy that was supposed to drape over the stadium.

The canopy was topped off with three giant tridents, but in recent months, there have been reports that the club have had a change of heart on this specific feature.

Some reports stated that the cost of the design was more than first thought, while others have suggested that there isn't enough space around the stadium for the canopy to be created as intended.

🚨 | BREAKING:#mufc have secured the majority of the land required to build a new 100,000-seater stadium, marking a major milestone in the long-term vision to transform the Old Trafford area.

HUGE 👀 pic.twitter.com/n2iSnhrct1

— UtdDistrict (@UtdDistrict) June 22, 2026

However, in the most recent concept art released by the club in July 2026, the canopy was still included, which suggests it is still very much part of the plans. For Sharpe, the plans are not worth the potential hassle. He told us:

“I wasn’t too sure about it, because as soon as you have a bad spell it would become a circus!
              
“It would be a great stadium for the media who want to slate you when things aren’t going great. Although I did like the fact that the idea was outside of the box, slightly edgy, but there are definitely better ideas than ‘Fred Karno’s Circus Tent”

FGG says: A point well made

There was a sense when Manchester United first unveiled their design concepts in March 2025 that nobody at the club had bothered to consider the optics of having a canopy that looks like a circus tent draped over the new stadium. Given that the club have been likened to a circus on more than one occasion over the past 13 years, it does feel like they are unnecessarily causing grief for themselves.

Lee Sharpe was speaking to FGG on behalf of NetBet sports betting.