TA Exclusive: Because the land price is too expensive, La Jue can t afford it, Manchester United cancels the ceiling design of the new stadium

Hupu September 27th TheAthleticUK Manchester United team reporter Laurie Whitwell exclusively reported that Manchester United has formulated plans for the new and old Trafford stadium, demolishing the sensational roof that caused a sensation when it opened earlier this year.

Due to problems with purchasing the land needed, the club is considering alternatives to replace the bold design proposed by co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and architect Sir Norman Foster in March.

Manchester United has negotiated with Flerena, which owns most of the land on the west side of the existing stadium, which was originally planned to be used to build some of the new stadium and about 17,000 homes.

But according to people familiar with the matter, Fleiner's asking price for the land is about 400 million pounds ($535 million), far higher than the Guardian's first reported price of around £50 million.

Freiner is willing to move the freight station to a new location, but is still waiting to obtain huge profits.

At the deadlock, United are considering different plans for the new stadium, where drawings being drawn show what Foster calls a "giant parasol" but are abandoned due to space constraints.

This huge awning, likened by critics to a circus tent, is a compelling element in the art concept map released to the public by Foster Architects six months ago.

The proposed stadium with a capacity of 100,000 people has a separate roof, so this awning—an estimated construction and installation cost between £300 million and £400 million—is mainly for aesthetics, rather than to provide shade for people in bad weather, thereby increasing their stay in the kiosk or fan zone below.

But it represents an important aspect of the scheme and has caused great controversy over its apparent incongruity with the Manchester Skyline and the club's industrial history.

Others prefer the three pointed heads that support the awnings to stand tall, forming a unique outline. The architects explained that after the design was determined, they believed that the three pointed heads were combined with the promenade that extended on the east side of the court, symbolizing the devil's trident and the handle of the trident on the club's team emblem. Manchester United said they are still excited about the vision proposed by Foster Architects, but it is only conceptual and specific construction work will be carried out later.

According to sources, the updated design is more in line with the traditional stadium appearance. At present, discussions are still in progress, and Foster's design plan remains an option.

But if Manchester United continues to implement contingency plans to cancel the canopy, the land required will be reduced, so it can be advanced faster. Regarding the specific location of the stadium structure, various solutions are currently being explored, each of which requires different amounts of land and configurations.

At the same time, half a year has passed, and the specific scope of government aid has not been determined, because first, the agreement needs to be reached, and Manchester United needs to purchase the land owned by Freiner in the so-called "stadium area".

Marseille-based shipping group Dafei Maritime Transport Group (CMACGM) reached an agreement earlier this week to acquire Flana's railway and road operations in the UK. The acquisition is scheduled to be completed early next year, but what it means for the reconstruction negotiations of Old Trafford arena is unclear, a press release issued by Dafei Maritime Group on Monday said.

Manchester United has not appointed Foster+Partners to follow-up work. Stadium Construction Company is bidding for other companies.

Insiders speculate that Foster Architects' small stadium team dedicated to designing the stadium will be busy flying to Milan to participate in the construction of the new San Siro Stadium, the deal was announced this week. But because they have done a lot of work, they are considered the most likely company to win. The overall construction funding for the new stadium was initially expected to be £2 billion, but the source of funds has not yet been determined as Manchester United's financial situation remains tight. Manchester United said at the June fan forum: "The new stadium design proposal announced in March was designed by Foster+ Partners, one of the world's leading architectural firms. The proposal is based on their overall planning of the stadium area announced in September. Although the stadium itself is not a formal part of the plan, it is always committed to being the core of the master plan and as a catalyst for the renaissance of the stadium."

Therefore, we have developed some conceptual plans to help shape thinking and demonstrate the change potential of the new stadium. These programs are the starting point for the next phase of work, which will include more detailed feasibility studies, fan consultation and design development. The formal appointment process for the stadium architect is underway and, like all club appointments, we will make appointments after proper due diligence and in accordance with our governance policies. ”