If you were pressed to name a highly sustainable megastructure that contributes heavily to the local area’s green energy goals, chances are a football stadium would be the last thing that comes to mind.
But all that may be about to change after Manchester United rolled out their ambitious plans to completely rebuild Old Trafford, with sustainability well and truly at the core of their exciting new development.
Unveiled in a March press release complete with eye-catching AI-generated visuals, the conceptual draft revealed a futuristic stadium design featuring a vast, umbrella-like canopy ready to harvest solar energy and collect rainwater – something there’s certainly no shortage of in sodden Manchester!
The blueprint for the brand-new 100,000-seater ground also mapped out plans to create a walkable green space in the surrounding district – all of which will be well connected by improvements to public transport links to align the project with the city’s broader environmental goals.
While the stadium’s bold design has divided opinion – rival supporters sneered at the canopy, suggesting the circus-style look was appropriate considering the team’s match performances in recent years – for United fans it’s no doubt refreshing to see their club taking the lead once again.
For years now, as the club’s on-field form has rapidly declined, so too has the condition of their home ground. With no redevelopment since 2006, the once-revered stadium now languishes in a sad state of disrepair due to years of chronic under-investment by the club’s much-loathed owners, the Glazer family.
Leaking roofs, crumbling fixtures and even rodent infestations have become the new norm, turning what was once among the world’s best football stadiums into a source of great amusement for rival fans.
The Theatre of Dreams somehow became the Theatre of Memes!
Big changes
However, with Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS now in place as the majority shareholder, the club have announced plans to knock down their 115-year-old home and build the most innovative stadium on the planet. United will once again have the home a club of their stature deserves.
It remains to be seen when the project will begin, but once construction commences it’s expected to take around five years before work is complete.
In the meantime, club officials are busy working alongside the government and local authorities to secure access to public money to help pay for the gargantuan project – estimated to cost in the region of £2bn.
To succeed, they’ll need to prove the new development will benefit not just Manchester United, but the broader area as a whole. Work on this front has already begun, with United’s number crunchers producing some attention-grabbing figures that are sure to strengthen their case.
According to the club, the project has the potential to deliver an additional £7.3bn a year to the UK economy, with a possible 92,000 new jobs and 17,000 new homes also mentioned.
And with priority given to any initiative that helps further the country’s climate goals, the club’s commitments to making their new home a green energy space will also do their bid for public money no harm.
Football matches – particularly those with the highest attendances – are known to be particularly taxing on the environment. With tens of thousands of fans travelling to and from the game, often from the other side of the country via public transport or, worse still, cars, high-profile matches generate massive amounts of emissions.
United, however, seem intent on bucking that trend, hoping to turn their new stadium into a beacon of sustainability.
When drawing up plans, designers Foster + Partners envisioned the aforementioned canopy to serve as more than just a bold architectural statement. The structure, which the designers say will be visible from Liverpool (read into that what you will!) is expected to house thousands of integrated solar panels, helping generate renewable electricity to power parts of the stadium.
This could significantly reduce the stadium’s reliance on traditional energy sources, although it remains to be seen how much of the overall power consumption this would produce.
As well as harvesting solar energy, the canopy design will also collect rainwater that can be used for things like pitch irrigation and flushing toilets, reducing water waste and easing demand on local supplies.
While collecting rainwater is unlikely to move the needle too much, it’s still a refreshing touch and together with other commitments such as the promise to use sustainable materials in the construction, it demonstrates the club’s forward-thinking approach to the environment.
Other local benefits
In addition to constructing the world’s most sustainable stadium, plans also include a comprehensive overhaul of local infrastructure.
For years, the club’s plans to redevelop Old Trafford have been dogged by the railway line that runs adjacent to the stadium’s South Stand. An integral part of the Trafford Park freight terminal, this line severely limits the club’s ability to expand the stand vertically or extend the stadium footprint southward.
But it’s not just United’s plans that have been hindered by this restrictive freight corridor – the broader Old Trafford area as a whole has suffered as land restrictions have prevented separate redevelopments such as housing, commercial spaces and improved transport infrastructure.
Part of the new plan is to relocate the freight operations to Parkside East in St Helens to free up valuable land for redevelopment. This will allow United and the local authorities to put in place the necessary infrastructure to make their project possible.
Moving to the new site near Newton-le-Willows will be a double-edged sword for some, however, as the proposed new terminal is located around 20 miles away from Trafford. So moving the operation out of town will have repercussions for workers or those relying on the terminal.
But those pushing for the project’s go-ahead will argue the good will far outweigh the bad as relocation will be a real game-changer for Old Trafford’s surrounding area. In truth, they’re probably right as it would unlock a large stretch of prime land that’s currently dominated by industrial infrastructure, clearing the way for new homes, public spaces and commercial developments.
A cynic might argue the driving force behind United’s wish to build a green, sustainable stadium is to give themselves a better chance of securing government money. Considering the country’s net-zero emissions targets, building a stadium that helps reduce our carbon footprint – even marginally – is far more likely to receive backing.
But the government and local authorities may see this as far more than just a football stadium – they’ll hope the massive redevelopment will create a ripple effect across the entire city. By investing in renewable energy systems, water conservation and sustainable transport, the development will hopefully act as a flagship for Manchester’s progressive climate strategy.
If we’re being really optimistic, walkable zones and green public spaces might even encourage healthier lifestyles and reduce car dependency, while boosting footfall for local businesses, all of which will bring prosperity to Old Trafford and neighbouring Stretford.
So United seem to be finally getting their house in order off the pitch. Now all they need to do is to sort out their performances on it!
By Darryl Rigby of TradeSparky, a UK-based electrical wholesaler specialising in green energy solutions
Making ‘return to office’ worthwhile for employees & businesses