New Trafford Stadium

The New Trafford stadium will cost £2 billion, and will mostly be funded by sponsors. What l don't quite understand is, why haven't United considered how the Principality stadium in Cardiff was built? It only cost £150 million, and if inflation is taken into account, it might have cost double that now, so about £300 million. If that stadium, with a capacity of 90-100k instead of the current 74k, was built over the next few years, it would probably have only cost £500-600 million. It isn't as big as Wembley stadium, but to my mind it aesthetically looks better at pitch side.

Arsenal fan here – but even I’ve gotta say, comparing the New Trafford project to the Principality Stadium is like comparing prime Thierry Henry to Nicklas Bendtner—different leagues entirely. First off, United aren’t just building a stadium; they’re trying to create a commercial fortress. The £2 billion price tag reflects their ambition to rival elite venues like the Bernabéu and SoFi Stadium in LA. Bigger hospitality suites, premium fan experiences, and all the corporate bells and whistles = more revenue long-term. And sure, the Principality looks decent, but let’s be real—Cardiff isn’t Manchester. United need a venue that screams "global powerhouse," not "rugby weekend." Plus, a 90-100k stadium comes with massive operational costs and infrastructure demands, which probably isn’t as simple as scaling up what Wales did in the ‘90s. United are spending big because they know every match day is a cash-printing machine.

The Principality stadium is still a big upgrade on Old Trafford overall. It has aged well, and is a worthy venue to host Champions League finals, and as an alternative venue to Wembley for hosting other finals and events. They did a great job in building such a fine looking stadium for £150 million, compared to Wembley, which cost £650 million.
There is a big difference between raising £500 - 600 million, and finding £2 billion, even if the latter will be paid off over time with the extra commercial opportunities. Most fans in Manchester aren't wealthy, so the revenue would need to flow from overseas tourists. At least that would help put Manchester on the map, well ahead of Birmingham.
The Principality stadium was one of the first stadia to include a retractable roof. Even Wembley doesn't have that, as their roof doesn't cover the pitch.
Thierry Henry might have been Arsenal's best ever player, but he wasn't in the same league as World class players (Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Zindane etc.). Just because he ripped average teams in the Premiership to shreds doesn't make him World class. He failed at Juve, and at Barca. He was well below the levels set by real World class players, like Batistuta, Vieri, and even Van Nistelrooy perhaps. The same applies to Henrik Larsson of Celtic, not World class either, due to scoring goals against championship level teams in Scotland.

Big upgrade on Old Trafford? Behave. The Principality is a solid stadium—for rugby and the occasional football match when Wembley’s busy. But let’s be real—it’s not touching Old Trafford’s history or future. United aren’t building a new stadium to match Cardiff; they’re building to surpass every stadium in Europe. You want to compare costs? Sure—Principality cost £150 million in 1999 with public funding. That’s like bragging about a discount because you paid with someone else’s wallet. And the £650 million Wembley price? That’s London economics for you—welcome to the big leagues. And about that retractable roof—great if you’re worried about a little rain, but United are focused on creating a global experience, not a glorified gazebo. Plus, the Bernabéu’s new roof and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium’s cutting-edge design blow Cardiff out of the water.
"Put Manchester on the map"? Mate, Manchester IS the map when it comes to football. Two of the world’s biggest clubs, a cultural powerhouse, and a global brand. Meanwhile, Birmingham’s biggest brag is the Bullring and Peaky Blinders. Let’s not pretend United need to prove themselves to anyone—especially not Brum. And yeah, local fans might not all be rich, but United’s revenue comes from every corner of the planet. The brand is too big to fail—tourists already flock to Old Trafford in its current state. With a state-of-the-art stadium? They’ll be cashing in on matchdays and museum tours for decades.
Let’s break this down, because clearly you need a football education when talking about Henry: World Cup Winner (1998) – You know, the ultimate stage. Where was Van Nistelrooy? Oh, right. European Championship Winner (2000) – Another major international trophy. Henry wasn’t just at the party—he was the life of it. Champions League Winner (2009) – Treble-winner with Barcelona. "Failed at Barca"? With 26 goals in a season? That’s not failure—that’s dominance. 4× Golden Boot – No Premier League player has won more. 2× PFA Player of the Year – Crowned by his peers. All-time Arsenal top scorer (228 goals) – And he made it all look effortless. And you dare compare him to Van Nistelrooy? The man who spent most of his career chasing Henry’s shadow and crying over missed Invincible dreams? Van Nistelrooy scored tap-ins—Henry scored masterpieces. Ronaldinho, Zidane, Messi—the footballing elite—have all praised Henry as one of the best ever. Your argument crumbles under the weight of facts.
So, next time you speak on Thierry Henry’s name—put some respect on it. Because while other strikers were chasing records, Henry was busy making history.

The hilarity of the new Manchester United stadium is twofold; firstly it looks like a circus tent, and secondly it’s clearly an indication of their intent to sell to a middle-eastern buyer upon completion.
That stadium wouldn’t look out of place in Dubai, but in Manchester it just looks like a circus tent that’ll be home to Britain’s best - and most overpaid - clowns.

I think the design is actually quite cool, and will be noticed across the globe as a landmark, and not just as a football stadium.
Manchester United will never be owned by the royal families of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, or Qatar. The fans would never allow it as long as the human rights abuses and murders in those countries continues. Manchester City are not in the same league, so they accepted ownership from Abu Dhabi, and they will soon be relegated for financial irregularities.

It’s no surprise that you think a circus tent looks cool - you follow a bunch of clowns.
“The fans won’t stand for it” ever seen a live chat for a United fan stream? Always lamenting that United wasn’t sold to the Middle East. Goldbridge can hardly go a United Stand video without saying it lol

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