Manchester United have secured the majority of the land required for their proposed 100,000-seat stadium, the Premier League club announced on Monday, marking a major step forward in the redevelopment project.
The club unveiled plans last year to build the £2 billion ($2.65 billion) stadium next to the existing Old Trafford, with the venue set to become the largest football stadium in Britain.
United said it has acquired a 25-acre site, located around 350 metres northwest of Old Trafford, from industrial property developer Indurent and a company within Blackstone’s portfolio.
“Being able to build so close to Old Trafford allows us to preserve the heritage, traditions and rituals that are so important to our fans,” said Collette Roche, chief executive of Manchester United’s new stadium development project.
“We are committed to building a world-class stadium with our supporters, not just for them, with atmosphere, affordability and accessibility at the heart of our thinking,” she added.