North Stand Construction Discussion

[Lavinda Past]

No one could have foreseen us being what we are now though mate?

Anyone with half an eye on the future would see that there was the potential to develop an 80k+ seater stadium at the time.... A stadium that could be used as an alternative to Wembley for major sporting and music events in addition to being City's home ground.

Old Trashford was already known to have fallen into disrepair and being in need of major redevelopment. While not a positive thing for many of us as traditional fans, the possibility of groundsharing could have been considered.

Had people been a bit more aspirational, we could now have the biggest and potentially most advanced stadium in Europe. Indeed, had Sheikh Mansour and Co been the club's owners at that time, I suspect that the ground would have been developed along similarly ambitious lines.

 

[TravisBickle]

Anyone with half an eye on the future would see that there was the potential to develop an 80k+ seater stadium at the time.... A stadium that could be used as an alternative to Wembley for major sporting and music events in addition to being City's home ground.

Old Trashford was already known to have fallen into disrepair and being in need of major redevelopment. While not a positive thing for many of us as traditional fans, the possibility of groundsharing could have been considered.

Had people been a bit more aspirational, we could now have the biggest and potentially most advanced stadium in Europe. Indeed, had Sheikh Mansour and Co been the club's owners at that time, I suspect that the ground would have been developed along similarly ambitious lines.

Sharing with the rags..no thanks!

 

[Lavinda Past]

Sharing with the rags..no thanks!

I agree, but it wouldn't have been our decision if the money was 'right'... which it would have been!

Ground share or not, it seems incredibly short-sighted of the club and the council not to take full advantage of an extensive development of the the stadium and surroundings after the Commonwealth games.

 

[El Gringo]

It always amuses me when fans of other clubs talk about theirs being a top notch fanbase because if they were playing well and winning things they’d pack out the stadium, but as they’re not currently playing well and winning things they don’t.
Surely that’s the opposite of a good fanbase and just shows they’ve got a lot of people that would jump on the bandwagon?

Villas attendances have always been the equivalent of a Tib St traders trollies

 

[jrb]

Anyone with half an eye on the future would see that there was the potential to develop an 80k+ seater stadium at the time.... A stadium that could be used as an alternative to Wembley for major sporting and music events in addition to being City's home ground.

Old Trashford was already known to have fallen into disrepair and being in need of major redevelopment. While not a positive thing for many of us as traditional fans, the possibility of groundsharing could have been considered.

Had people been a bit more aspirational, we could now have the biggest and potentially most advanced stadium in Europe. Indeed, had Sheikh Mansour and Co been the club's owners at that time, I suspect that the ground would have been developed along similarly ambitious lines.

Just like the Rock of Gibraltar and it’s spunk, we can thank Fergie for United not moving to the then City of Manchester stadium and Manchester. :-)

Doesn’t Gary James post on Blue Moon? Maybe he can shed some more light on the story, which is in one of his books.

From the Mirror. 2010.

Click on the link for the full article.

United were approached about the possibility of returning to their roots in the east of the city when Manchester was awarded the 2002 Commonwealth Games, according to a new book.

It was only the intervention of Sir Alex Ferguson that halted the plan – even though Manchester city council were prepared to build an 80,000-capacity stadium to bring the club back to the city of their birth.

Author Gary James unearthed the astonishing blueprint to take United back into Manchester from Trafford for the updated version of his book ‘Manchester – A Football History.’

Labour MP Graham Stringer, who was leader of Manchester City Council at the time, is quoted as saying: “Discussions with United were serious and went to a high level – the highest level.

United planned to ditch Old Trafford for Eastlands - Exclusive

Fergie blocked the move in the late 90's fearing the decision could backfire like it did for Arsenal

www.mirror.co.uk

 

[Lavinda Past]

Just like the Rock of Gibraltar and it’s spunk, we can thank Fergie for United not moving to the then City of Manchester stadium and Manchester. :-)

Doesn’t Gary James post on Blue Moon? Maybe he can shed some more light on the story, which is in one of his books.

From the Mirror. 2010.

Click on the link for the full article.

United were approached about the possibility of returning to their roots in the east of the city when Manchester was awarded the 2002 Commonwealth Games, according to a new book.

It was only the intervention of Sir Alex Ferguson that halted the plan – even though Manchester city council were prepared to build an 80,000-capacity stadium to bring the club back to the city of their birth.

Author Gary James unearthed the astonishing blueprint to take United back into Manchester from Trafford for the updated version of his book ‘Manchester – A Football History.’

Labour MP Graham Stringer, who was leader of Manchester City Council at the time, is quoted as saying: “Discussions with United were serious and went to a high level – the highest level.

United planned to ditch Old Trafford for Eastlands - Exclusive

Fergie blocked the move in the late 90's fearing the decision could backfire like it did for Arsenal

www.mirror.co.uk

Great find! Thanks @jrb and of course @Gary James .

I bet the rags would take arms off to get that offer nowadays!

 

[berryblue]

We didn't pay for the conversion post games however, we had to fund the fit-out as we were handed a basic stadium

At the cost of £22 million I believe.

 

[Gordyola]

Just like the Rock of Gibraltar and it’s spunk, we can thank Fergie for United not moving to the then City of Manchester stadium and Manchester. :-)

Doesn’t Gary James post on Blue Moon? Maybe he can shed some more light on the story, which is in one of his books.

From the Mirror. 2010.

Click on the link for the full article.

United were approached about the possibility of returning to their roots in the east of the city when Manchester was awarded the 2002 Commonwealth Games, according to a new book.

It was only the intervention of Sir Alex Ferguson that halted the plan – even though Manchester city council were prepared to build an 80,000-capacity stadium to bring the club back to the city of their birth.

Author Gary James unearthed the astonishing blueprint to take United back into Manchester from Trafford for the updated version of his book ‘Manchester – A Football History.’

Labour MP Graham Stringer, who was leader of Manchester City Council at the time, is quoted as saying: “Discussions with United were serious and went to a high level – the highest level.

United planned to ditch Old Trafford for Eastlands - Exclusive

Fergie blocked the move in the late 90's fearing the decision could backfire like it did for Arsenal

www.mirror.co.uk

Interesting as I know they were likely to move if Manchester had won the Olympics, there was a plan for a 80K stadium similar in design to CoM The commonwealth games didn’t require a 80k stadium and doubtful the budget would have stretched to it the offer to the rags must have been before the council approached City. If agreement wasn’t reached then a temporary stadium would have been used

 

[Corky]

Interesting as I know they were likely to move if Manchester had won the Olympics, there was a plan for a 80K stadium similar in design to CoM The commonwealth games didn’t require a 80k stadium and doubtful the budget would have stretched to it the offer to the rags must have been before the council approached City. If agreement wasn’t reached then a temporary stadium would have been used

The stadium for the 1996 bid in Barton would have been a disaster based on how bad it is to get to the AJ Bell.

 

[Brewster's millions]

At the cost of £22 million I believe.

I seem to remember that we issued a debenture as part of a 30m loan to pay for it all.