What Man Utd Old Trafford 100,000-seater stadium plans mean for Chelsea and Stamford Bridge

Manchester United have confirmed that they are planning to build a 100,000-seater stadium at Old Trafford. It would take the capacity to more than double that of Stamford Bridge.

The announcement of a five-year project to build a new multi-purpose sporting arena - which minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has said he hopes will be on the same site as the current stadium - comes a little over a year after Ineos arrived at the club. Meanwhile, Chelsea continue to run into problems with their own ambitions to expand.

Stamford Bridge has long been an issue across both the Roman Abramovich regime and now the Clearlake Capital-Todd Boehly administration. 15 years ago Abramovich first made an attempt to solve Chelsea's middling stadium size. He would try again cautiously three years before having to sell the club.

Increasing Stamford Bridge's capacity has been an aim of the new owners since arriving and is one of the reasons that an extra £1billion was pledged towards financing additional infrastructure across all facets of the club, also including investment into the Chelsea foundation, academy, and women's team. Progress has been minimal at best.

Chelsea have hired multiple new experts to help with the stadium development but continue to be hit with the same stumbling blocks. The corridor of southwest London in which Stamford Bridge sits limits Chelsea in all aspects.

Building up is restricted due to being in a landscape of historical significance. The current site of the stadium is also penned in by Fulham Broadway tube station the underground line whilst hotel buildings behind the stadium also block movement.

Chelsea purchased over an acre of land on which the Sir Oswald Stoll Mansions are situated by will not take them over until the end of 2025 at the earliest as they attempt to rehome all the retired veterans living there. The buildings could also be used for additional office space.

Perhaps the ideal scenario is building a new stadium at Earl's Court, just a mile down the road, but land there is set to be bought by the Earls' Court Development Committee (ECDC) and there are no plans to incorporate a new football ground. It all leaves Chelsea in a tough position.

Any plans to move the club away from Stamford Bridge would also have to be passed by the Chelsea Pitch Owners (CPO), who blocked Abramovich's first ploy in 2011. United, therefore, have moved ahead of Chelsea in their attempts to revamp.

Although the extent to which United have really moved the dial here is debatable - this is simply a confirmation of intent with concept ideas and ambitions - it is still further than Chelsea have come. United have not yet decided if the new stadium will be on the exact same site or elsewhere. Ratcliffe has admitted his preference is to remain where they are now.

Images of United's potential new stadium have also been released. The arena is enclosed in a tent-like structure, creating an umbrella-type effect. The cost to build it has been put at an estimated £2billion and would take at least five years.

United, like Chelsea, are in need of additional revenue through all means possible in a footballing world now dominated by Profitability and Sustainability rules (PSR) or other financial restrictions. Neither stadium is currently used for other events such as concerts - though Old Trafford did up until 2018 - or different sports. Both have held charity matches such as Soccer Aid.

Speaking at the unveiling of United's plans, 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.

"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.

"Just as important is the opportunity for a new stadium to be the catalyst for social and economic renewal of the Old Trafford area, creating jobs and investment not just during the construction phase but on a lasting basis when the stadium district is complete.

"The government has identified infrastructure investment as a strategic priority, particularly in the north of England, and we are proud to be supporting that mission with this project of national, as well as local, significance.”

Reports have previously stated that United hope to seek funding from the government in a bid to create the 'Wembley of the North.' There are already regeneration plans for the Trafford Park area and including the stadium in that has received backing from chancellor Rachel Reeves. They own 100 acres of land around the stadium.

United's CEO Omar Berrada said in regards to funding: "Still quite early and as a PLC we can't speculate too much about the funding. What I will say is as a centrepiece it is a very attractive investment opportunity. We are very confident we will find a way to finance the stadium."

The aim is to have Old Trafford as a 'mixed-use miniature city of the future' of itself. It is the direction in which many modern stadiums are heading but Chelsea continue to be at a dead-end in how they reach that destination or indeed start on the journey.

The news of United's plans will be yet another reminder of the challenges ahead of Chelsea both financially and logistically. The idea of creating a theatre of football on this scale may also divide opinions given the corporate ties attached to it.

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