Man United: Progress being made on stadium land deal
The club is hopeful of sharing some positive news on negotiations with landowners over the next few months, according to Collette Roche, chief executive of the stadium project, suggesting an impasse has been broken.
Speaking on Manchester United’s Inside Carrington podcast, Roche confirmed that talks with the owners of land the club wants to acquire to build a 100,000-seater stadium, which include Freightliner, “are progressing really, really well”.
Manchester United’s plan A is to acquire Freightliner’s rail yard next to the stadium so that it can maximise the space it has to construct the new ground, expected to cost in the region of £2bn. However, it has previously been reported that talks had broken down over a difference of opinion over the value of the land.
“We want to make sure we get the best possible position for the stadium, one which has got plenty of land around it to put the right facilities in place, one that is connected and offers a great matchday experience,” Roche said.
“I have been spending a lot of time talking to all of the local landowners to understand where that needs to be and… I am hoping to be able to share some positive news on that front in the next few months.”
The club confirmed at a recent fans’ forum that the circa £2bn cost of the stadium would come from private investors.
Man United co-owner Jim Radcliffe had previously suggested that taxpayer money could be used to foot some of the bill but Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has repeatedly said this would not be the case.
Discussions with would-be funders are progressing well, Roche said on the podcast.
“I am delighted to say we’ve had a lot of interest. There’s a lot of people and organisations that want to invest, not just in the stadium but also in the wider stadium district,” she said. “Those conversations are naturally going to be behind closed doors.”
In terms of a timeline, Roche refused to be drawn on a specific date but said the plan was “on track”. She told MUTV that Mayor Burnham has previously outlined an ambition of having the stadium ready to host the 2035 Women’s World Cup Final in 2035.
“If we could pull that off, that would be incredible,” she said.
It remains one of the great strategic blunders of our age to have revealed their ambitions before having optioned the Freightliner land. All they did was hand them a great big ransom strip which, naturally, they are exploiting to the full. Doh!
By St Domingo
Taxpayers money? Surely what is meant is Central, Regional or Local Government Capital Borrowing at rock-bottom interest rate to be repaid from the extral local taxation to be garnered?
By Anonymous
Sounds positive. Fingers crossed for more positive news on land assembly in the summer!
By Cyril
There no Taxpayer money. 👍🏻
By G J Kitchener
Yes, taxpayers money. On which we all pay interest on the ballooning national debt, as “tax receipts” remain static despite all the pump priming and supposed gva gains.
At some point, you’d hope that there is a realisation that previous policy has failed the UK. Allowing a single penny of public money be spent to support a multibillion pound football company would not be in line with this.
By John
This project remains very lose with no clear or definite statements as has been the case since the beginning.
It is fronted by southerner, Coe, who is no friend of Manchester and undermined the city`s Olympic bids.
The absent billionaire owners in America and Monaco are not putting in any of the club`s money.
The Mayor is supporting the loss of jobs in Trafford and wants to move a major freight terminal out of GN M to Merseyside.
The regeneration of Trafford can proceed without taxpayers underpinning a new stadium which is not necessary.
By Harry Mercer
I thought it would be done for 2030? Completion by 2035 would be “incredible” now?
By K Stand Grumbler
I do hope these negotiations are more real than our friend Mr Trump’s deals.
By Anonymous
St Domingo, it could be argued that MUFC have Freightliner over a barrel rather than Freightliner having a ransom strip. There is only one buyer for the Freightliner land which is MUFC. Freightliner need to move to have a more viable expanded business, however MUFC have the option of ditching the new build proposal and refurbish the current stadium. It is beneficial for all concerned that the new build option progresses so I suspect that this will therefore progress.
By Anonymous
Great news. It will dwarf everyone else
By Pep
The wider masterplan for this stadium, which overlaps the Trafford Wharfside masterplan and recently adopted SPD, is not helping with the delivery of homes.
By Anonymous
Stop wittering about tax payer money and read the article. The whole Trafford Wharfside masterplan will be an incredible asset for Manchester and the north west.
By Anonymous
From what I understand Ratcliffe didn’t ask for tax payers money for the stadium costs, its for the infrastructure costs (roads, train station etc.) which will cost 10’s of millions – all needed in the bigger plan.
By Martin
Jim Ratcliffe has built a fortune while keeping his tax bill low—yet now expects public support to fund a stadium that will boost his own wealth. Not fair with tax payers.
By MR. C
Still lots of hostility towards this as expected. When this is built United will literally be on another planet to the rest of the premier league in commercial sense. The fear from the other clubs is real and you can feel it.
By Bob
I wonder how many commenting on this know the area. I do. It’s a huge dump. A place you want to escape as quickly as you can. While the club can fund the stadium, there’s nothing wrong with taxpayers funding regeneration of the area, and building thousands of new homes within it.
By Flixton resident
How naive / daft could Manchester United be to announce their stadium plans without first having an option agreed with Freightliner? The Freightliner board must have been sat rubbing their hands listening to United unveil their intentions to the world thus putting a premium on their land overnight.
By Mr Mcr