Wembley of the North

[Poulton-le-Claret]

Interesting article on the BBC about Man United's potential new stadium:

BBC News - Old Trafford redevelopment: Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants 'national stadium in the north'
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68361025

The club that spends billions of pounds on transfers and wages also want tax payers to help them out with the cost. Compete farce if they get funding that way. They should pay for their own stadium.

'Ratcliffe added the potential project could be a "catalyst for regeneration" in south Manchester and would therefore warrant a "conversation" with the government about using taxpayers' money.'

[bumba]

Depends how it's used, if it's used by the FA to host England games in the North and to have the potential for semi finals or play offs between Northern teams to be played up here I'm all for it

[claretburns]

Interesting article on the BBC about Man United's potential new stadium:

BBC News - Old Trafford redevelopment: Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants 'national stadium in the north'
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68361025

The club that spends billions of pounds on transfers and wages also want tax payers to help them out with the cost. Compete farce if they get funding that way. They should pay for their own stadium.

'Ratcliffe added the potential project could be a "catalyst for regeneration" in south Manchester and would therefore warrant a "conversation" with the government about using taxpayers' money.'

If you read the article properly he doesn't necessarily mention funding for the stadium, he says if a new stadium was to be built then regenerating south Manchester would be good as well and that would be a conversation with government.

He is completely right in his assessment that the majority of government funding goes to London and the south and when the "levelling up" process didn't happen with HS2 because of the fees, all the fees being used were then taken away and used for the London railwork system.

[ClaretsPadiham]

United probs the only team in England that could sell out a 100 thousand seater stadium every game.

[claptrappers_union]

There is no point in having a ‘Wembley of the North’ when the Wembley of the South went so far over budget that football fans are still paying for it by having all FA Semi-Finals and pointless England friendlies while being gaslit through the media that it’s what we want.

[Sgt. Pepper]

As a long term resident of the Potteries I believe the name "Wembley of the North" is already taken.
Safe to say it hasn't worked out as intended (as Stoke City fans delight in reminding Port Vale supporters).

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vale_Park

[Stayingup]

If you read the article properly he doesn't necessarily mention funding for the stadium, he says if a new stadium was to be built then regenerating south Manchester would be good as well and that would be a conversation with government.

He is completely right in his assessment that the majority of government funding goes to London and the south and when the "levelling up" process didn't happen with HS2 because of the fees, all the fees being used were then taken away and used for the London railwork system.

As previously mentioned on this board HS2 had it started in the north would have been completed. An example of levelling up that hasn't occurred. Investment in transport infrastructure in the north generally has been pathetic compared to say London

[Poulton-le-Claret]

If you read the article properly he doesn't necessarily mention funding for the stadium, he says if a new stadium was to be built then regenerating south Manchester would be good as well and that would be a conversation with government.

He is completely right in his assessment that the majority of government funding goes to London and the south and when the "levelling up" process didn't happen with HS2 because of the fees, all the fees being used were then taken away and used for the London railwork system.

I see your point, but I do think he is indicating that he would like to see tax payers money spent on the stadium itself, which I would be totally against, as United have plenty of money.

Totally agree about the disparity in north-south spending though.

[Woodleyclaret]

The Cockney reds who I regularly meet on the M40 account for around 50,000 supporters
What's wrong using Bramley Dock as the Northern England base

[jrgbfc]

Nice idea but why would the FA shift games from Wembley and hit themselves in the pocket?

[dougcollins]

As a long term resident of the Potteries I believe the name "Wembley of the North" is already taken.
Safe to say it hasn't worked out as intended (as Stoke City fans delight in reminding Port Vale supporters).

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vale_Park

If only it was in the north.

[Sgt. Pepper]

To be fair "The Wembley of the North West Midlands" doesn't quite roll of the tongue as easily.

[elwaclaret]

The taxpayer already holds a stake in Bolton I think, unless they’ve payed it back… give the Old Trafford stadium money to them to expand it to become a second national stadium and save having to waste further money in futile pursuit of trying to get the money out of Bolton while creating a new Wembley for the nation and let United put some of their own money back into their community.

[Claret Toni]

Perhaps Sir Jim could approach the Venkys for a bit of funding.

They seem to splash their money on hopeless causes. Could twin the arena with Wimbledon and have a few tennis matches there. I believe they're expecting tennis balls to be available soon - might be a bit cold for strawberries and cream, perhaps chicken in a basket as an alternative; maybe a nod to another national sport with a statue of Red Rum outside the ground, and even the rovers fans would be up for it.

[mikeS]

Unless the UK were to win a World Cup Bid or another Olympics, I can't see UK taxpayers money being used to build and lease Man United a brand new stadium rivalling Wembley which in todays money would be £1.5 to £2bn.
Ain't gonna happen.

[timshorts]

Unless the UK were to win a World Cup Bid or another Olympics, I can't see UK taxpayers money being used to build and lease Man United a brand new stadium rivalling Wembley which in todays money would be £1.5 to £2bn.
Ain't gonna happen.

And it shouldn't happen, particularly at a time when the country has no money. The glazers should have absolutely no help at all, given that they have had decades to update their decaying stadium but chose to line their pockets instead.

This is the sort of **** that goes down in the nfl. "fund our new stadium or we will move the franchise to Los angeles/Las vegas/indianapolis/St Louis" etc.

They have no leverage in the uk to do this. And rightly so.

That said, it would be quite funny to see them try and relocate to London. Much better for half of their fan base. Or Madrid or Dublin or rafa.

[Wile E Coyote]

either way, its a disgrace that the wembley corporate leeches get to host everything.
millions spent travelling to that place even when two northern teams competing.
london is a dump, the area the stadium is in horrendous. utter disgrace on every level.

[LS7]

I wonder when the contractual commitment on England games and FA cup semis comes to an end ? It is a total disgrace.

[TheFamilyCat]

Not exactly South Manchester is it?

[Wokingclaret]

either way, its a disgrace that the wembley corporate leeches get to host everything.
millions spent travelling to that place even when two northern teams competing.
london is a dump, the area the stadium is in horrendous. utter disgrace on every level.

Better than the Fulham guy owning it.

And I wouldn't want to go to "New Trafford" for our next Play off final

[dougcollins]

To be fair "The Wembley of the North West Midlands" doesn't quite roll of the tongue as easily.

I always enjoyed our visits down there, though Vale Park wasn't exactly a happy hunting ground.

Friendly folk in Burslem.

[SydneyClaret]

If only it was in the north.

Nowadays anything above Watford is classed as the North. Definitely in terms of funding. It’s the same here in Australia. NSW now stands for Newcastle, Sydney, Wollongong. Everywhere else gets nothing.