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Manchester United have received a major boost in their quest to build a new 100,000-seat stadium.
It was reported last summer that the Red Devils planned to build a new state-of-the-art Old Trafford in a staggering £2billion project.
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United co-owner Sit Jim Ratcliffe has made no secret in the past of his desire to build a 'Wembley of the North'.
In February 2024, the club instead stated they were looking to improve the current stadium after plans to regenerate the area were revealed, though they are now weighing up a new ground entirely.
And now, their proposal has been backed by the government, with the Chancellor of the Exchequer - Rachel Reeves - championing the regeneration project.
It has been claimed that such a regeneration at Trafford Park could boost the UK economy by as much as £7.3bn.
The Trafford Park complex would feature the prospect of a major transport hub, along with premises dedicated to sports, residential, entertainment, business and an education campus.
Meanwhile the Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force has claimed that their plans would provide more than 90,000 employment opportunities.
The UK Treasury has since described United's plans as a 'shining example of the bold pro-development model that will drive growth across the region'.
In a statement on Sunday morning, United, who are working with Trafford Council and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, welcomed the announcement.
Club CEO Omar Berrada said: "The delivery of a world-class stadium can be the catalyst for major regeneration of an area of Greater Manchester which requires new investment to thrive again.
“We cannot achieve that wider aim on our own, which is why we welcome the announcement by the Chancellor and the ongoing support of the Mayor of Greater Manchester and Trafford Council.
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"If we work together, there is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create a landmark project around Old Trafford that the whole region can be proud of.”
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, added: “With our devolved powers we’re mobilising the whole Greater Manchester system to lock in growth for the next decade and reap the rewards for our city-region and UK plc.
“The project around Old Trafford represents the biggest opportunity for urban regeneration this country has seen since London 2012 and is a key part of our ten-year plan to turbocharge growth across Greater Manchester.
"We look forward to working with the Government on moving freight away from the site around Old Trafford to new locations to open up capacity for our rail network and unlock massive regeneration potential – delivering benefits across the whole of the North.”
While United's new stadium is at the heart of their project, the Task Force has determined they could increase the current capacity of Old Trafford to 87,000.
Whereas building an entirely new ground would allow them to welcome 100,000 fans, with a final decision to made ahead of the summer.
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United have played at Old Trafford for 114 years after the stadium was opened in 1910.
Should United decide to build a new ground, it has been estimated that it would take around six years to complete.
