“So intense…” – Hidden detail in Lord Norman Foster’s statement on Manchester United’s new stadium will excite matchgoing fans

Lord Norman Foster, one of the world’s leading architects, has explained the details behind Manchester United’s new 100,00-seater stadium plans.

On Tuesday morning, Manchester United announced their decision to construct a brand-new 100,000-seater stadium rather than renovating Old Trafford.

It was a decision which has been ongoing for many months, with the ‘Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force’ analysing the benefits and drawbacks of each option.

The conclusion is that a new stadium will be built and the iconic Old Trafford will eventually be demolished. It is said that completion could be in 2030.

United supporters have been divided on the future of the stadium, with many being against the idea of knocking down the Theatre of Dreams and moving into a “soulless bowl”.

Hidden detail on United stadium will excite matchgoing fans

When images were first released of the concept for the new stadium, fans were struck by the design, which is unlike any other football stadium in the country.

The jury still seems to be out on the overall look of the build, but images of the pitch and stands look to have a lot of promise.

It appears that the ground, on the inside, is more confined than some may have expected, with an emphasis on bringing fans in the stands “close to the pitch”.

That is the message of Lord Norman Foster, who is the lead architect behind the project, and believes that the stadia design will help “cultivates the roar” inside.

“This has to be one of the most exciting projects in the world today. It starts with the most famous football club in the world, a billion followers globally,” said Foster.

“So it starts with the fans, it starts with the idea of making something which is so intense it brings you close to the pitch acoustically it cultivates the roar.”

This is a detail that will likely excite those matchgoing fans who have had concerns about the design of the ground and how the atmosphere will be impacted.

Of course, there are still concerns in relation to the stadium project and the club as a whole that the fans are not happy with. Over 5,000 match-goers protested on the weekend before the recent Arsenal clash.

That was partly over the treatment of supporters following price increases at Old Trafford – and this new stadium does not look like it will come cheap.

Speaking on the plans to build the new stadium Sir Jim Ratcliffe said: “Today marks the start of an incredibly exciting journey to the delivery of what will be the world’s greatest football stadium, at the centre of a regenerated Old Trafford.   
 
“Our current stadium has served us brilliantly for the past 115 years, but it has fallen behind the best arenas in world sport.

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“By building next to the existing site, we will be able to preserve the essence of Old Trafford, while creating a truly state-of-the-art stadium that transforms the fan experience, only footsteps from our historic home.”

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