Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe announced plans to replace Old Trafford with a new 100,000-seater stadium, estimated to cost £2 billion. This decision comes in light of Old Trafford's aging condition, last renovated in 2006. Interestingly, the club had previously turned down an offer to move into a new stadium for free after the 2002 Commonwealth Games. Former officials have expressed regret over this rejection, suggesting that accepting the offer would have alleviated the current financial burden of building a new facility.
"On a personal note, I find deep irony in the current situation. It could have been avoided if United had accepted an offer from Manchester City Council when we were planning the 2002 Commonwealth Games."
"Our plan was to be able to convert the Games' venue into an 80,000+ replacement or competitor for Wembley. United were the only club with sufficient support to make this viable."
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