Manchester United to transform outdated training HQ into 'world-class' facility

NEW DELHI: Manchester United is set to invest £50 million ($64 million) in redeveloping their Carrington training headquarters. The updates aim to transform the facility into a "world-class" space.
The redevelopment will be managed by British architects Foster + Partners. The project includes refurbishing all areas of the building to ensure it supports future success, according to a statement from the club.
This decision follows a review that revealed Carrington's standards had fallen behind those of competitors.Recently, the club opened a state-of-the-art building for women and academy players.
"We want to create a world-class environment for our teams to win," said United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe.
"When we conducted a thorough review of the Carrington training facilities and met with our men's first-team players, it was clear the standards had fallen below some of our peers.
"This project will ensure Manchester United's training ground is once more renovated to the highest standards."
The renovation work is expected to span the entire 2024/25 season. Temporary measures will be put in place to accommodate players and staff during this period.
Norman Foster, a renowned name in global architecture, promises a design reflecting the "spirit of industry, grit, and ambition" of both the club and the city.
Foster has an impressive portfolio, having designed iconic buildings like the HSBC Building in Hong Kong, London's "Gherkin" skyscraper, and the reconstructed Reichstag in Berlin.
"As a proud Mancunian, it is a particular honour for me to see Foster + Partners given this responsibility and we will ensure that our design captures the spirit of industry, grit and ambition that exemplifies both Manchester and Manchester United," the architect said.
The review also highlighted issues at Old Trafford. A recent rainstorm during a match against Arsenal revealed a leaking roof at the stadium.
British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe is considering options to either redevelop the existing stadium or build a new one on nearby land. This follows his acquisition of a 27.7 percent stake in the club earlier this year.
Recently, United made significant changes to their backroom staff. However, manager Erik ten Hag will remain in his position after a post-season performance review.
Ten Hag's second campaign ended positively, with United achieving a surprising 2-1 victory over Manchester City in the FA Cup final.