The Manchester United takeover is taking its merry time. Since last season, fans have been anticipating the sale of the club from the Glazers and the start of this season has demonstrated why its essential for the long-term health of the club.
It seems to be narrowed down to two potential buyers – Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim. If the former is successful in his 25% investment, it won’t be anytime soon. According to the Independent, the Glazers are set for long-term negotiations, so no investment is set to be made in the short-term.
But it’s not all bad news for United fans. In fact, the British billionaire has revealed the first promise he aims to achieve if the investment is successful.
According to The Times, Sir Ratcliffe aims to extend the capacity of Old Trafford to 90,000. Currently at 74,310, it would be an increase of over 15,000 capacity. Further, it would match Wembley Stadium as being the two largest capacities in England (both 90,000).
This promise isn’t to be overlooked. While it may seem like just a few more seats, on paper it could exponentially improve the revenue of the club, making it more sustainable in the long-run.
With some claiming that a new stadium should be built since Old Trafford is getting run down (and personally, I agree with those claims), assigning more capacity may be the next option. If done right, on paper it could decrease ticket prices and allow a much greater atmosphere inside the stadium. Both factors would greatly affect the performances of the players on the pitch.
