Man United told to 'look again' at new stadium plan - 'it's fanciful'
03/23/2025 05:00 AM
Man United unveiled plans for a new stadium earlier this month and the project appears to be gaining traction despite its ambitious nature.
UK Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy told Sky Sports on Thursday (20 March) that the government are “really keen to crack on” and get the project “off the ground”.
The new ground will hold 100,000 fans and cost £2billion – and will be the centerpiece of a regeneration of the Old Trafford area.
Man United‘s plans feature three masts which architects say will be up to 200m high and visible for 25 miles around, with the stadium itself covered by an umbrella design that will harvest solar energy and rain water.
But Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – has identified one area of the plans that is “very fanciful” and needs a second look.
Man United’s £7.3billion claim is ‘very fanciful’, says Wyness
Man United claimed upon the launch of their plans that the stadium and wider regeneration will deliver an “additional £7.3billion per year to the UK economy”.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider's Inside Track podcast, Wyness insisted that number is “part of an orchestrated PR campaign from Sir Jim Ratcliffe“.
| Ranking | Stadium | Capacity |
| 1 | Old Trafford (Man United) | 74,197 |
| 2 | Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (Tottenham) | 62,850 |
| 3 | London Stadium (West Ham) | 62,500 |
| 4 | Anfield (Liverpool) | 61,276 |
| 5 | Emirates Stadium (Arsenal) | 60,704 |
| 6 | Etihad Stadium (Man City) | 52,900 |
He claimed that figure “will have to be looked at again”.
He told Football Insider's Inside Track podcast: "I've read about this, last week Everton claimed they would have £1.3billion of economic impact from the new stadium.
"I thought it would be a bit more than that, because Everton are starting from a lower base.
"But from a Man United level, it does seem very fanciful.
"The whole music industry in the UK has an economic impact of £7.6billion. That puts it into perspective.
"Can one stadium deliver the same sort of impact? I tend to think it's rosy-coloured glasses looking at this.
"It's all part of an orchestrated PR campaign from Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
"This report has tried to put the gloss on with the £7.3billion number, but Oxford Economics will have to look twice at this number.
"I've seen the numbers taken apart quite effectively by some commentators.
"I think they're fanciful and will have to be looked at again.
"Another comparison is that Wembley contributes £600million a year, and Spurs' stadium contributes £300million a year.
"It's a big gap, so I need to see more work on this if I'm going to believe these numbers."
Man United ticket prices set to skyrocket
Football Insider revealed on 19 March that Man United's season ticket prices could rise by hundreds of pounds ahead of the club's move to their new stadium.
The Premier League side confirmed earlier this week the majority of their season ticket prices will increase by about 5% for next season – after they were previously frozen for 11 years up until 2022.
Newcastle United and Arsenal have revealed their season ticket prices will also rise by up to 5%, while Liverpool, Tottenham, West Ham and Brentford have frozen their prices for the 2025-26 season.
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