Overview

• Fresh designs for a proposed 100,000-seat, £2bn stadium remove the previously touted canopy, according to multiple reports citing The Athletic.
• The canopy was a Foster + Partners showpiece championed by Sir Jim Ratcliffe and was estimated to cost £300m–£400m with largely aesthetic impact.
• Talks to acquire adjacent Freightliner land have stalled, with the company reportedly seeking around £400m compared with United’s valuation near £50m.
• Scaling back the scheme reduces the land required, with the stadium’s precise layout still under review and the final architect yet to be appointed.
• United are pursuing public support for surrounding infrastructure, but no government funding has been confirmed as negotiations and design work continue.