Collette Roche, the Chief Executive Officer overseeing Manchester United’s new stadium development, has provided reassurance regarding concerns about potential disruption to Old Trafford during the club’s ambitious regeneration project.

Earlier this week, Manchester United confirmed the proposed site for their planned 100,000-capacity stadium. The new venue, which is expected to become the largest football ground in the United Kingdom, will be located around 350 metres north-west of Old Trafford in Stretford, bordered by John Gilbert Way, Wharfside Way, and Europa Way.

Last month, the club announced that it had purchased 25 acres of land in the area. The new stadium will form part of a broader, sports-driven redevelopment of Trafford Wharfside.

According to estimates, the project will generate approximately 48,000 local jobs and deliver 15,000 new homes, contributing around £7.3 billion annually to the UK economy.

Some fans and stakeholders had voiced apprehensions that the large-scale construction, which could take several years, might interfere with Old Trafford’s operations and affect the team’s ability to play home matches there.

Addressing these concerns, Roche assured that the project has been designed to ensure minimal disruption to the current stadium’s activities.

Speaking on the latest episode of the Inside Carrington podcast, Roche said, “We can’t build a new stadium at the expense of disrupting football today. The way we’ve planned and developed this project has always considered that priority.”

She continued, “Choosing a location further from the current Old Trafford was crucial. We don’t want distractions, and we certainly don’t want to play matches in the middle of a construction site.”

Roche further explained, “It was very important to minimise disruption to Old Trafford because that question came up right from the start. Even if we had decided to redevelop the current ground, it would have meant reducing capacity, meaning some fans wouldn’t have been able to attend matches.”

“The players’ dressing rooms would have been disturbed, and we know how important their matchday routines are. We didn’t want to interfere with that,” she added.

Roche also emphasised that while the club is focused on building a modern, world-class facility, preserving Manchester United’s rich heritage remains at the heart of the project.

“We’re incredibly proud of being one of the most historic clubs in the world, and we can’t lose that sense of identity just because we’re moving to a new stadium. The fact that we’ll still be on Old Trafford grounds, only 350 metres away from the current site, is something special,” she said.

Roche noted that the club will engage in further consultations with supporters to determine which heritage elements should be carried over. “Fans have already mentioned things like the Munich clock and the players’ tunnel. We’re exploring options for incorporating such features, even parts of the pitch, and deciding what should happen to the Old Trafford we’re sitting in today.”

She reaffirmed the club’s commitment to open dialogue with supporters, ensuring that every voice is heard and that fans remain an integral part of shaping the club’s future.