Manchester United have revealed the location for their proposed new 100,000-seater stadium – roughly 350 metres north-west of their existing Old Trafford ground, on a site currently partly used by a go-kart track.
The announcement, part of a draft masterplan for the wider Trafford Wharfside area, envisages a multi-billion pound regeneration project that Trafford Council says would create 48,000 local jobs and 15,000 new homes. The 150-hectare development, to be known as Trafford Wharfside, is described as a “sports-led” regeneration with improved public transport, rail links, and walking and cycling routes.
“Manchester United reveal location for new 100,000-seater stadium, 350m north-west of Old Trafford, on a former go-kart track.”
Images released on Thursday show no trace of the striking “circus tent” canopy unveiled by minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe in March 2025. But United officials insist that concept has not been ditched. The plans are an outline of what might be built and are not set in stone – they also include the removal of the famous Lou Macari’s fish and chip shop at the top of Sir Matt Busby Way.
“In the next few weeks we are going to look at the design of the stadium,” said Collette Roche, United’s new stadium development chief executive. “We hope to have something to share by end of this calendar year or early next.” Pressed on when the stadium might open, Roche refused to give a date: “We are not going to put a date on it. We want to get it right.”
No decision has yet been made on the future of the existing Old Trafford stadium. A public consultation process is now set to begin. Councillor Tom Ross, Leader of Trafford Council, said: “We want to create a great place to be, not just on matchdays but every day.”
United acquired a 25-acre site for the proposed stadium last month – land that currently houses a go-kart track. The club stated that the mixed-use development has the potential to deliver a £7.3bn per annum boost to the UK economy. But with no completion date set and the design still to be finalised, the timeline for the club’s long-awaited new home remains uncertain.