Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is planning a “massive” Old Trafford regeneration “around a new 100,000-seat stadium, or 87,000 refurbished” venue, according to Ethan Davies of the MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS. Burnham has named Old Trafford as a “key ‘growth location’ for the next decade,” a week after the Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force concluded redevelopment of Manchester United’s home would “increase its capacity to 87,000, while a new stadium would hold 100,000 fans.” The mayor has confirmed work to redevelop the land around the Theatre of Dreams “will go ahead regardless of the club’s decision" to build a new facility or refurbish Old Trafford. His office believes the plan “represents the biggest sports-led regeneration scheme since the London 2012 Olympics.” The Greater Manchester Combined Authority said that a “Mayoral Development Corporation” will be formed to “develop land and bring forward new infrastructure,” meaning redeveloping the area has “jumped to the top of the mayor’s priority list” (MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS, 1/24).
BILLS TO PAY: In London, Richard Jolly noted ManU told a supporters’ group that further ticket price rises “could follow as they bid to improve their financial position and seek to avoid breaking Profitability and Sustainability Rules.” ManU lost $140.28M in the last financial year and $378.62M over three years while new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has “come under fire” for putting some tickets at Old Trafford up to $81.93. While the club “anticipate their revenue for the current year will be between” $806M and $832M, they committed over $744M to transfers in former manager Erik ten Hag’s reign and are “struggling to afford January signings” for new manager Ruben Amorim (London INDEPENDENT, 1/23).
