Since Ratcliffe took charge of the United coaching whip, the team launched a comprehensive self-renovation journey. The British media disclosed that Manchester United is plotting to spend 20 billion to build a brand new stadium with a capacity of 100,000 spectators, dreaming of completion in 2030, and the official announcement at the end of the year is on the verge of being made.
United have long debated whether to build a brand new stadium or to expand the existing Old Trafford. Although Ratcliffe has proposed a two-pronged strategy, the motivation behind it is thought-provoking. Once the so-called "New Otford" plan is implemented, its capacity will be as high as 100,000, which is expected to surpass Wembley Stadium as the largest in the UK and second only to Barcelona's LU Camp Stadium in Europe.
The site of the new stadium is cleverly located around the Otford Stadium, a layout that has the great advantage of allowing United to remain in Otford during the construction period. However, the £2 billion investment will not be easy for Ratcliffe and the Glasha family. They are reportedly actively looking for investors and are even considering using the stadium's naming rights as a bargaining chip.
