Old Trafford: Manchester would become world’s biggest football city, says Andy Burnham

Manchester would become undoubtedly the biggest city in world football with the redevelopment of the Old Trafford area, mayor Andy Burnham says.

United hope to replicate the regeneration that the east side of Manchester has experienced since City moved into Etihad Stadium in 2003.

Burnham says “no city would come close” to Manchester.

“You could make an argument that this is the biggest city in world football 1710032054 because of the two clubs we have got within it,” Burnham told BBC Sport’s Simon Stone.

“If the ambitious vision comes through, either refurbished or new build, there would be no doubt about that.”

The taskforce, which deliberately does not include any club officials, will be led by Lord Coe.

Club co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has expressed his preference to build an entirely new stadium adjacent to Manchester United’s current Old Trafford Stadium, and council leaders have welcomed the club’s plans to regenerate the area.

The taskforce will make its recommendations in the second half of 2024 but Burnham believes either option – a new stadium or a redevelopment – would put Manchester at the centre of world football.

“If on the west of Greater Manchester you have United at the heart of a new campus of facilities that links to Media City and the east of the city you have Manchester City, who continue to build out from the Etihad with a new massive indoor arena going in there, just think about that,” added Burnham.

“No other city in the world would be set up in terms of its football infrastructure to Manchester. No-one would come close. This is why I will give this taskforce everything we’ve got to help because the benefits to our city-region are massive if we unlock them. It’s not for show.”

As part of Ratcliffe’s preference to build a new stadium and regenerate the area, the 71-year-old said the club would have “conversations” with the government about funding.

“It is way too early [to discuss funding], we are not even there,” added Burnham.

“What I have got to do as part of the taskforce in the next five or six months, working with Lord Coe and Gary [Neville] and others, is give all the supporting information to enable a decision – is it refurbished or is it new build?

“In either case there will be some requirement for public funds to be involved because of the train station and the big freight depot right behind Old Trafford, which is an issue as well and something we have got to look at.

“What we are talking about is a complex regeneration scheme that could be the biggest in the north of England in our lifetime, and why as mayor of Greater Manchester would I not want that?

“If I’m honest the more ambitious the club is the better it is for us, because then the benefits will come out to our residents for decades to come.”