In September 2024, Foster + Partners announced its appointment by Manchester United for the development of a master plan for the Old Trafford Stadium District. The centerpiece of the master plan is a new stadium, set to become the largest football venue in the United Kingdom with a capacity of 100,000 seats. This week, the firm unveiled images of the stadium design along with surrounding public spaces, including parks, mixed-use developments, an open-air cinema, and a renovated train station. These images contain the illustrative concepts that will become the basis for more detailed feasibility, consultation, and planning work as the project enters new stages.
The stadium design features an open structure with a distinctive, seemingly lightweight, permeable roof. Always visible from a distance, the roof is designed to shelter crowds while amplifying the intensity of the football experience. According to Norman Foster, the new Manchester United Stadium is "not a fortress surrounded by a sea of cars" but an open space "contained by an umbrella that harvests solar energy and rainwater." This "umbrella" refers to the tent-shaped roof supported by three masts, which also symbolically evoke the club's trident emblem. The roof is acoustically designed to carry the crowd's roar beyond the stadium.
The surrounding area will include a mixed-use district with a network of green spaces, streets, bridges, and waterfront areas, transforming the current one-million-square-meter brownfield site. The potential removal of freight trains from the West Coast Main Line would strengthen the project by increasing passenger traffic to Manchester Piccadilly and the northwest region, improving rail connections with Liverpool, and freeing up land for the Old Trafford Stadium District. The stadium is planned as the centerpiece of the district, with its canopy roof shielding a large public plaza from rainfall. Overlooking the city's Bridgewater Canal, which runs adjacent to the site, the covered plaza is designed to feature a variety of interactive experiences for Manchester United fans and visitors.
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Architecture Now: 3XN, Foster + Partners, and More Redefine Redevelopment and Community DesignA key advantage for fans is the reduced construction time, with Foster + Partners estimating five years instead of ten, thanks to prefabrication strategies. The stadium will be built from approximately 160 prefabricated, Meccano-like components, transported via Manchester's Ship Canal, a nod to the city's industrial heritage. The new stadium is set to be built on a site near the Old Trafford stadium, Manchester United's home since 1910. According to the BBC, once the construction is complete, the existing stadium is likely to be demolished. As part of the master plan, Foster + Partners also plans to rebuild Old Trafford station, creating a direct, walkable route to the stadium within a sports-led urban district.
The traditional "fortress and parking" stadium model, as described by Norman Foster, is being replaced by more integrated, multifunctional urban designs. On a similar note, RIOS and Field Operations recently unveiled plans to repurpose parking lots at Chicago's United Center, Gensler revealed a new stadium project for Al-Ahly Football Club, and Populous announced the redevelopment of Italy's Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia. These projects aim to transform stadiums into year-round destinations, expanding their role beyond sports to serve as community hubs and urban landmarks.
