Manchester MP details how Manchester United turned down free stadium rebuild

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Manchester United are weighing up the future of Old Trafford.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS have outlined plans for a major stadium regeneration project.

The Red Devils are set to build a new, modernised 100,000 seat stadium to replace Old Trafford.

Financing remains a key issue, with estimates for a full rebuild exceeding £2 billion.

The lack of modern infrastructure at Old Trafford has left United falling behind their Premier League rivals.

However, Manchester MP Graham Stringer has revealed that all of this could have been avoided.

United were once offered a free stadium rebuild – but turned it down.

United rejected the chance for a world-class stadium

Writing in Manchester Confidential, Stringer shared details of a missed opportunity.

He recalled how Manchester City Council had offered United a deal before the 2002 Commonwealth Games.

“Our plan was to convert the Games’ venue into an 80,000+ replacement or competitor for Wembley,” he explained.

The proposal would have given United a modern, state-of-the-art stadium at no cost.

However, then-chairman Roland Smith rejected the idea, opting to remain at Old Trafford.

“United were the only club with sufficient support to make this viable.

“I had meetings with Roland Smith, who then chaired United’s board.

“He rejected the offer.”

How Manchester City benefitted from Manchester United’s decision

With United uninterested, the council turned to Manchester City, who jumped at the opportunity.

“Given City’s smaller fan base, the size of the ground had to be reduced,” Stringer said.

City moved into what became the Etihad Stadium, helping transform their long-term prospects.

“This made them attractive to first Thaksin Shinawatra and then the Abu Dhabi United Group.”

City’s takeover in 2008 set the stage for their rise to the top of English football.

United, meanwhile, were left to maintain an ageing Old Trafford without external funding.

A “deep irony”, per Stringer’s words as a summary of United’s current struggles.

Stringer admitted he sees a clear irony in United’s stadium dilemma today.

“This and the subsequent investment in the team has led to City’s recent spectacular success and then improvements in the ground.

Irony or what?!”

United are now facing an expensive rebuild – one they could have had for free decades ago.

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