Why Man Utd have now turned to Hill Dickinson Stadium experts to help with £2bn new stadium plans

Manchester United have taken another step towards delivering their proposed new stadium by bringing in advisers with experience of one of English football's biggest recent ground developments.

The club has turned to the legal team that played a key role in Everton's move to Hill Dickinson Stadium as plans for a new home at Old Trafford gather pace.

Man Utd turn to firm that helped Everton with Hill Dickinson move

United are being advised by leading law firm Slaughter and May on the early construction and procurement stages of their proposed 100,000-seat stadium, as reported in the Manchester Evening News.

The appointment follows the club's recent acquisition of a 25-acre plot of land, allowing work to resume on one of the most ambitious stadium projects ever proposed in British football.

Slaughter and May is no stranger to major football infrastructure projects, having advised Everton throughout the development of Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Its involvement covered construction, financing, planning and real estate matters as the Toffees delivered their new waterfront home before leaving Goodison Park.

The firm also advised on the future of Goodison Park, which now hosts Everton Women's matches following redevelopment work.

Beyond the Toffees, Slaughter and May is currently supporting Crystal Palace's Selhurst Park redevelopment, including the long-awaited expansion of the Main Stand, while it has also previously advised Arsenal on major corporate matters.

The firm's relationship with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS is already well established after assisting with the acquisition of a minority stake in Manchester United, as well as previous football investments involving Nice and Lausanne-Sport.

Meanwhile, the club continues to explore financing options for what was initially estimated as a £2 billion development, although more recent projections suggest costs could rise significantly.

FGG says: Experience matters for projects of this scale

Large-scale stadium developments involve far more than construction work, with legal, planning and financing expertise playing a crucial role in turning ambitious concepts into reality.

United appointing advisers with experience of delivering projects such as Hill Dickinson Stadium is a logical move and another indication that the club is laying the groundwork before major construction decisions are made.

While supporters remain eager to see visible progress, much of the most important work on a project of this size happens long before the first foundations are laid.