Manchester United’s majority shareholders, the Glazer family, believe that a new stadium could substantially increase the club’s value if they ultimately choose to sell their majority share.
According to journalist Ben Jacobs on The United Stand, internal belief is that a completed new stadium could raise the valuation to £6-8 billion by 2030, though this financial focus continues to frustrate many supporters.
Early design concepts for a 100,000-seat venue have been released, but meaningful work cannot begin until United secure key surrounding land near Old Trafford.
The proposed arena would anchor a far wider regeneration project across Trafford, with Manchester mayor Andy Burnham heavily involved in parliamentary discussions.
Burnham has formally approached the government regarding the redevelopment and insists that no public funds will be used to finance the stadium’s construction.
Fan expectations, internal restructuring and Glazer valuation targets ahead of new Man Utd stadium
Supporters are keen for atmosphere and matchday experience to be central to the design, although groups such as The Red Army state that no detailed consultations have begun.
Nearly two years have passed since Sir Jim Ratcliffe acquired his minority stake, restructuring United’s football operations through several major appointments.
Nevertheless, the Glazers still control more than 60 percent of the club, and Ben Jacobs recently claimed that the owners would want at least £5 billion in any sale.
Ongoing land negotiations and Old Trafford’s absence from Euro 2028
INEOS are presently working to finalise the land purchases needed before construction can begin, leaving the timeline uncertain until those negotiations conclude.
The long-running difficulties surrounding the site underline the scale of the redevelopment, and this has affected other possibilities surrounding the stadium.
UEFA confirmed the nine stadiums selected to host Euro 2028 across England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, and despite being the largest club ground within the home nations, Old Trafford was excluded because of the ongoing review and the possibility of major structural change over the coming years.
FGG Says
Manchester United’s stadium project sits at the intersection of ambition, politics and ownership tensions, as the Glazers’ belief in a significantly higher club valuation after redevelopment explains their reluctance to relinquish control, yet it also prolongs the uncertainty that frustrates supporters.
Ratcliffe’s sporting vision depends heavily on progress with the land acquisition, and until that is resolved, plans remain theoretical rather than transformative.
The absence of Old Trafford from the Euro 2028 list underlines how time-critical this project has become. Ultimately, the new stadium could reshape the club’s future, but the path towards it remains complicated and slow.