Manchester United will ask fans for their opinion on the future of Old Trafford and plans to regenerate the area around the stadium in the next stage of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s vision to build a Wembley of the North.
Ratcliffe is in favour of a brand new 100,000-capacity stadium, that would cost in excess of £2billion and could be ready by 2030. The other option is to redevelop Old Trafford, and United’s co-owner wants an answer by the end of the year.
The club have announced they will email all men’s and women’s team season ticket holders, United members and executive club members on Friday to ask if they would prefer the new-build or redevelopment option, as well as seeking their views on the current matchday experience and what they want their future experience to include.
It’s the first step in the fan consultation phase of the regeneration project and will help the taskforce, led by Lord Coe, to make a decision.
United’s chief operating officer Collette Roche said: ‘We want to hear from as many fans as possible during this process to ensure we can capture all their views and understand what our supporters want from a world-class stadium in the future.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants to know soon if Man United will be building a new stadium or redeveloping Old Trafford
He is in favour of a new 100,000-capacity 'Wembley of the North' but is consulting supporters
Ratcliffe wants a final answer by the end of the year with the project potentially reaching completion by 2030
‘This important survey is the first stage of our wider consultation with fans and will be followed by a series of focus groups and town hall meetings to make sure fan voice is at the heart of our decision-making process.’
Former United captain Gary Neville, who is also on the task-force, added: ‘Old Trafford has evolved throughout its history and it’s clear we are at a point where it has to change again to ensure that Manchester United has a world-class stadium befitting the world’s greatest club and the world’s greatest fans.
‘Old Trafford should be a stadium that the Manchester United fan base can take pride in, so I urge the fans to complete the survey, and participate in the wider consultation, to help shape the task-force feasibility work and ultimately inform the club’s final decision on the stadium’s future.’
Duncan Drasdo, CEO of the Manchester United Supporters’ Trust, said: ‘Enhancing fan engagement on key issues is at the heart of MUST’s mission and there are few more important questions at any football club than the future of the stadium.
'Our primary objective through the task-force is to ensure that supporters' voices have been heard when the club comes to make their decision about the future of Old Trafford, so we believe this process is of utmost importance.
‘We'd encourage all fans to share their views and continue to engage throughout all aspects of the consultation process.’