Manchester United, their chief architects and the Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force have finally revealed their first impressions of what the new stadium and surrounding area could look like.
After naming Foster + Partners as the lead designers on the new ‘Wembley of the North’ last week and teasing further details surrounding their Old Trafford masterplan, supports now have their first glimpse at what the task force is hoping can be achieved with the soon-to-be-redeveloped stadium and region.
In addition to creating over 92,000 jobs in the immediate area and across nearby boroughs, one of the biggest claims they have made is that the regeneration scheme will inject an “extra £7.3 billion in GVA [gross value added] for the UK economy each year.”
Presuming these projections are to be believed, Greater Manchester’s Mayor Andy Burnham might be right when he says this could be “the biggest regeneration scheme ever seen in this country.”
Old Trafford update 🏟️
An economic report has explored the benefits of regenerating our stadium and surrounding area ⤵️#MUFC
Man United shared the lengthy reel featuring concept art and quotes from figures partnering with the Old Trafford Regeneration scheme, including Mayor Burnham, club legend and local entrepreneur Gary Neville and task force’s chair, Lord Sebastian Coe, among others.
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Coe, a retired Olympic track and field athlete himself turned sports administrator and former politician, echoed Burnham’s sentiment, adding: “We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create something special.”
Lord Foster (of Foster + Partners), who was born just down the road in Reddish, Stockport, also expressed his excitement about being part of the project and building upon “the foundations of Manchester’s industrial heritage.”
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The club stated that the overall scheme “will benefit the local community, attract new residents, increase job provision, and make it a vibrant destination for visitors from Manchester, the UK and all around the world”, and the Mayor assured no public money will be used in the development.
You see some snapshots of the would-be teaser video down below:
The first impressions of what a new Old Trafford stadium could be look like (Credit: Man United via screenshot)
The plans will see ‘New Trafford’ – we have no idea if that’s actually its name or not, by the way, just an easy working title for our purposes – erected as the first 100,000-seater stadium not only in the North but the entire country, surpassing the current largest (Wembley) by a full 10k.
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However, as the full update from United explains, the plans go far beyond just creating a new football ground: they want to develop the entire Old Trafford district and pump money into both already valuable areas like the Trafford Park industrial complex and under-utilised areas.
The regeneration team has also been tasked with helping carve out plans for “new mixed-use developments around the stadium and in the adjacent Trafford Wharfside area” as well as along the River Irwell towards Salford Quays.
As you see, while these small snippets might only be artistic impressions at this stage, the CGIs have also been backed up by the first models designed by the architects.
You can see more here:
The plan is to make the Old Trafford area a full on sporting, leisure and entertainment destination.Credit: Man United x Old Trafford Regeneration (screenshot)/Sky Sports (via YouTube – screenshot)
Other stats about the Old Trafford Regeneration scheme that follow these first impressions include an estimated 1.8 million additional visitors to the multi-purpose stadium and more than 17,000 new homes following investment in the surrounding areas.
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The club and their regeneration task force are eyeing up a total of one million square meters of new developments/redeveloped plots, so it goes without saying that this could change the face of a good chunk of Greater Manchester forever.
With talk that Man United now intend to keep the existing Theatre of Dreams to house the women’s team and preserve their storied history – rather than bulldoze as many first feared – what you do make of this first look at the potential future of your stadium, Reds?
A local Manchester run club is holding two special running routes to see the total eclipse
Danny Jones
With the highly anticipated total eclipse fast approaching, people not just here in Greater Manchester but all over the UK, Europe and the rest of the world are gearing up to try and watch it – but this native running club are doing it a bit differently.
Eclipses occur once every 12-18 months, but this is set to be the biggest since 1999.
The moon is set to cover approximately 96-98% of the sun this coming Wednesday, 12 August, 2026, and rather than try to watch it from a window at home or drive to somewhere with supposedly ‘the best view’, local sports club Manchester Road Runners are turning it into their latest one-off event.
Sharing details online, the free-to-join local organisation, which boasts thousands of members on Facebook and various other platforms, will be timing things to make sure they catch the phenomenon.
Writing in the accompanying caption, the Road Runners say: “We’ve pulled some strings and have a very special event taking place on August 12th, a solar eclipse! Come run with us under a darkened sun next Wednesday from The Wharf at 18:30, with peak moon coverage expected at around 19:10.”
Better still, they’re also teaming up with their trail running spin-off club for an even more scenic twist on the evening excursion.
“If you prefer to experience your solar phenomena under the wide open skies”, they go on to write, “our friends over at Trail Division will be holding a hike/run off road, meet at Piccadilly Station at 18:00 to get shady in the great outdoors.”
Fortunately, they have issued an important disclaimer, going on to remind runners that “while beautiful and majestic, the sun should NEVER be directly looked at in the face unprotected”, signing off by adding, “Respect the sun, respect your peepers, stay ocularly safe out there.”
If you’ve never come across MRR before, they’re probably the biggest run club in the entire Greater Manchester region and their social-first jogs, intervals, track sessions and more revolve around meeting back up with your mates for a wholesome pint and a chat.
For many, it’s the biggest and the best in the city.
As for the eclipse run, it’s set to be a very magical variation on their usual Wednesday evening meets.
Quite rightly, they also point out in the post that you can actually buy certain glasses to view eclipses on these rare occasions, with search traffic often ramping up in and around these events.
Meanwhile, the Trail Division branch is yet to confirm the route for their run/hike, but it will most likely remain in the nearby North West vicinity; keep your eyes peeled on their social media pages (linked above) for more information and other upcoming trail events.
Speaking of trail runs, there’s a pretty beautiful albeit challenging one coming up next month…
Stunning vistas, walkers welcome, and multiple distances available.🏃♂️🥾
And the best part? It's less than 90 minutes away from Manchester. 🏞️
Rodri makes ‘preference’ clear as Barcelona and Real Madrid push to sign Man City star
Danny Jones
Ballon d’Or winner and Manchester City star Rodri has reportedly made his ‘preference’ clear as both Real Madrid and FC Barcelona have ramped up efforts to sign him this summer.
The European and now World Champion is well and truly within ‘completing football’ territory at this point, but now looks set for a return to his home country to conquer La Liga.
Well, sort of, as according to Forbes and other outlets, the world-class central defensive midfielder looks to have ‘chosen’ Barcelona over Madrid, with the deal now progressing beyond just player talks.
However, as the BBC and various other sources have now reported, City have already rejected an initial bid of approximately £38.5 million and will keep holding out for a larger fee for one of, if not their most important player.
Sharing an even more recent update, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has stated that, as well as the decision having now been made over the Spanish giants and “personal terms agreed”, the Rodri move has now entered the “key stages” with direct negotiations between the two clubs.
Initial contract talks are said to have already taken place, and with the Spaniard having come through the Atlético Madrid youth ranks before returning there as a senior player prior to his big-money move to Manchester, a switch to the other side of the city and ‘Los Blancos’ was always going to be a tall task.
As per Romano, Barca are extremely keen on securing Rodri, but as always, price will be the sticking point. Although the Blues have made it very clear that they want more if he is to leave, the Catalan club are confident they’ll be able to close the deal before the end of the transfer window.
It’s rumoured that the asking price is somewhere closer to £60m, although who knows what the final number would be when factoring in add-ons and other bonuses, etc.
Meanwhile, City are obviously hoping to keep hold of their Euro 2024 and 2026 World Cup winner if they can; they’re said to be trying their best to keep him at the table and tie him down to a new and even more lucrative contract.
On the other hand, they have brought in an already extremely highly rated player in Elliot Anderson, who looks set to be their crucial cog in the middle of the park for a long time to come at just 23 years old.
Do you think it’s the right fit, if he has indeed ‘picked’ the Blaugrana?
All that being said, it’s hard for any player to look the other way when an offer comes in from two of the biggest clubs in the world, let alone Spain – especially when the player is from there and has won everything there is to win in their current league.
Rodri only turned 30 back in June, and despite having numerous injury problems over the past couple of seasons, there is still an evident faith that new MCFC boss Enzo Maresca can build a fresh squad around him in the pivot.
What do you think, Cityzens: is now the right time to try and get a good price for him, or should he stick around at the Etihad for the remainder of his already glittering career?
Elsewhere in transfer news, both big Manc clubs and a number of other suitors across Europe are supposedly interested in signing a young striker currently playing in Ireland…
Danny Jones -
24th September 2024 
