Manchester United's proposals for a new stadium are set to become even more important to the club hierarchy following the most recent investigations into football club revenue.
As reported by Manchester Evening News, the Red Devils have fallen in the 2026 Deloitte Football Money League.
Manchester United fall further in Deloitte Money league
As revealed in Manchester Evening News, Manchester United have fallen to their lowest ever place in the Deloitte Football Money League, now finding themselves eighth in the 2026 list.
The fall is largely down to the Red Devils' lack of European football in the 2025-26 term, causing a reported £50m decrease in broadcast revenue to £179.4m as well as a drop in matchday revenue at Old Trafford given the absence of Champions League nights.
Deloitte's latest report leaves the 20-time English top-flight champions as the country's fourth-placed side in the income table, trailing Liverpool, Arsenal and city rivals Manchester City.
Will stadium plans fix Manchester United's revenue slump?
Speaking following Manchester United's drop to eighth in the 2026 Football Money League, Tim Bridge, Sports Business Group Leader at Deloitte, said: “If you went back 10 or 15 years, and you looked at Manchester United’s matchday revenue, it was the industry leader. If you looked at their ability to generate commercial revenue, it was the benchmark by which everybody then went to market and set their strategy.”
“I don't think that remains the case. The opportunity remains for Manchester United. They are arguably still the biggest global football club brand, and therefore they have the opportunity to maximise that in a way that is only possible for a select few.”
“But to do that requires fit-for-purpose facilities. As the industry evolves, clubs should ask themselves whether there is a need to rethink how they engage with fans and how that relationship works.”
“With reports of the new stadium, it is clear they have started to do some of that, so it’s very clear they’re thinking in that way.”
A new 100,000-seater stadium remains a priority for INEOS and the club hierarchy, but progress is reportedly slow due to conflicts with local landowners and the significant preparation and planning required.
FGG says: Stadium expansion can only go so far
While a new and improved stadium would certainly improve Manchester United's income and financial position in the long run somewhat, it is far from solving the whole issue.
As stated above, drops in income are largely down to the Red Devils missing out on European football, and continued absence from the top end of the Premier Division and the continental stage will only cause further financial decline regardless of their home stadium.