[Mike Keegan] EXCLUSIVE Man United’s regeneration of Trafford Park with a new 100,000-seater stadium at the centre of ambitious project could be worth £7.3 BILLION per year to the UK economy

# EXCLUSIVEMan United’s regeneration of Trafford Park with a new 100,000-seater stadium at the centre of ambitious project could be worth £7.3 BILLION per year to the UK economy

* **The Red Devils commissioned Oxford Economics to carry out an assessment** 
* **Should they come to fruition, the plans will deliver huge growth to the area** 

Manchester United’s regeneration of Trafford Park – with a new stadium at its heart – could be worth £7.3 BILLION per year to the UK economy.

The Premier League giants, who want to build a state-of-the-art 100,000 facility as the centrepiece of a vast, transformational project, commissioned Oxford Economics to carry out an assessment on the fiscal impact of their proposals.

And the global advisory firm found that – should they come to fruition – the plans would deliver huge growth, including 92,000 new jobs, 17,000 new homes and 1.8million visitors to the area per year.

Mail Sport understands that United have not and will not ask for public funding for the stadium but want a public private partnership to focus on infrastructure and wider regeneration, with an immediate emphasis on transport.

Officials from the club were today at the Labour Party Conference in the home city of their fiercest rivals, Liverpool.

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and fellow regeneration task force member Gary Neville presented to onlookers in front of a model and exhibition of what the project aims to achieve and how it may look. A video, obtained by Mail Sport, was also shown.

The message to delegates was that the scheme, which will see either a brand new £2bn stadium on the footprint or a transformed Old Trafford, will provide a staggering boost to an area which stretches from United’s home down to BBC base MediaCity, across the water.

Burnham focused on the benefits that would be unlocked via shifting the freight terminal currently behind the Stretford End.

‘What you have here is huge potential to fix the rail system of the north-west of England,’ he said. ‘It’s an incredible opportunity right in front of us and Manchester United have created the catalyst to try and realise all these benefits.’ Should the terminal be shifted, a significant transport hub for the area could arrive in its place.

‘It’s hugely significant not just for Manchester United but beyond,’ Neville added. ‘I think Manchester United has one of those most powerful voices in the world even though it’s just a football club, as crazy as that sounds.

‘The impact Manchester United should make on and off pitch should be significant and this is the start of it. I’ve been pulling my hair out for last 10 to 12 years thinking 20 years ago Manchester United had the best stadium in the world, the best training ground in the world, one of the best teams in world football.

‘Obviously there has been a demise from that but the new ownership coming in has proved to be a catalyst for what we can change.’

United recently announced Foster + Partners as lead architects on what has been named the Stadium District.

They will shape proposals on how to utilise land around the stadium into a growth area centred around sports, residential, entertainment, business and an education campus.

Once completed, Oxford Economics work will drive the final recommendations from the Task Force.

I know rival fans are against the UK economy contributing for this, but the stadium is gonna contribute much more to the economy. Additional taxes and revenue will be taken by the government. So why shouldn’t there be some contribution by them? They’re a significant beneficiary as well.

If Utd can get at the heart of this and monetise it correctly it’ll send us above and beyond

Maybe this is why Ratcliffe wanted to get in so badly?