Manchester United Football Club has announced it is to embark on a huge redevelopment of the Old Trafford stadium where the team has been based since 1910. The proposed lavish plan is said to cost £ 1.5 billion and if successful, will increase the capacity of the stadium to 90, 000, making it the club with the largest stadium of its kind in the entire United Kingdom.

The revelation was likely made in light of increased pressure from fans over the run down state of Old Trafford, which has not seen much acquisitions by the Glazer family owned since 2005. The redevelopment strategies are viewed as important for continued sound status of Manchester United as one of the premier soccer teams globally.

Detail of the development plan was unveiled by club CEO Richard Arnold this morning, referring to the plan as “a new chapter at the Old Trafford stadium.” The redevelopment also includes the face lift of the South Stand – where 15,000 new seats and new superior hospitality accommodation have to be installed. They also provide for major enhancements to improve the accessibility for the stadium inclusive of lifts and wider corridors in an effort to improve the attendance experience for all parties when attending a match.

Further, in the redevelopment of these stations, emphasis will be put on capacity as well as sustainability. Through adopting new conservation measures the club has agreed to ensure that this stadium becomes a completely carbon neutral structure by the year 2030 in addition to having put into use solar power, rain water, and energy friendly lights in this place.

The project will cost about $68m and is anticipated to record its first phase in the post current end of the football season and is expected to last for five years. The club has stated that there will be a limitation to inconvenience with most construction work expected to be carried out during off seasons.

The reaction to this announcement has been generally positive with many fans happy that at last there seems to be investment in the stadium. The official Manchester United Supporters Trust described the plans as being a considerable improvement for the club but pointed out that the fans should remain involved in the forthcoming reconstruction process.

Local councils and authorities have also not opposed the project voicing their opinion on the fact that it will boost the economy of the region. As the leader of Trafford Council Tom Ross pointed out, at the present time the stated investment will ‘not only help to take Manchester United to the next level in terms of becoming a truly global brand but more importantly will deliver significant benefits to the people of this region, especially as we see increased employment and tourism’.

However, there are some issues which have concerned the financing of this project been raised. The club has said that the redevelopment will be financed from the cash holding which the club has on its balance sheet, and debts which has raised some concern among the financial analysts due to high level of debt which Manchester United has.

According to Dr. Rob Wilson who is a football finance expert from Sheffield Hallam University he said Widespread renewal is undeniably needed but that it will act as a significant handicap for the club for Touch and feel profit making it important for the club compact with what it can afford out for the pitch.

Evaluations of changes to the facility also encompass conditions on other aspects of the site around Old Trafford, new fan zones, upgraded transport links, and other additional car parking facilities. The club has also stressed that it is keen on partnership approach through engaging with residents and other stakeholders in order to limit the impact of construction phase on them.

In the same release, Manchester United also unveiled plans to enhance the Carrington training base to provide among the best facilities in your football. This extra spending is considered to be necessary in the ever growing international football talent market.

The Old Trafford remodeling is not the first instance where the premier league clubs are improving their stadiums with Tottenham hotspur and Everton the latest clubs to undertake or complete their stadium developments. Manchester United’s plans however are the most elaborate strategies yet in the light of the fact that the club does not want to be left behind as they continue to hit on the World football ‘giants’.

Once the work begins, all the spotlights will be on Old Trafford to examine how this magnificent sporting facility is going to be modified or upgraded to meet modern requirements and specifications of football and still preserve its edgy ambience attracting millions of footfalls of football enthusiasts and ardent fans from across the globe.