There's a 'realistic possibility' that Greater Manchester could host football World Cup matches in '10 years', according to Andy Burnham.
The mayor has suggested that matches for the FIFA Women's World Cup could be held 'at a rebuilt Old Trafford' stadium in 2035. That year, the tournament is expected to be played across the º£½ÇÊÓƵ as a joint bid from England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland is the only remaining contender to host the world's largest football festival in 2035.
Manchester United revealed ambitious plans in March to reconstruct their home ground with a new 100,000-capacity featuring a striking three-tower design that supports a 'vast umbrella' protecting thousands of fans from Mancunian rain under a 'new public plaza twice the size of Trafalgar Square'.
While significant questions remain over how the club will finance the new stadium - after both the government and Mr Burnham's Greater Manchester Combined Authority ruled out providing public funds to the arena - leaders hope to construct a new neighbourhood around the arena by investing taxpayer money on new infrastructure.
However, according to Lindsay Johnston, an architect who worked on stadiums for the 2022 men's FIFA World Cup in Qatar and the Etihad Stadium in its previous life as the Commonwealth Games host, FIFA 'want a mixed-use neighbourhood done as quickly as possible' around each host arena.
Mixed-use neighbourhoods combine residential spaces with retail, hospitality, and community amenities such as schools and medical centres, often anchored by a key venue.
Manchester United and the wider Greater Manchester region are now on a 10-year timeline to prepare for the premier event in women's football.
At the º£½ÇÊÓƵ Real Estate, Infrastructure, and Investment Forum (º£½ÇÊÓƵREiiF) held in Leeds on Tuesday (May 20), specialists shared three key insights for football executives and civic leaders looking to develop successful stadium neighbourhoods.
A great transport network
Quintain's CEO James Saunders cited enhanced public transport links as a pivotal factor in their acquisition of 86 acres around the former Wembley stadium prior to its demolition.
Since the inauguration of the 'new Wembley', the area has seen the development of thousands of homes, a retail park, a public square, an indoor arena, and various food and beverage outlets near the iconic stadium.
Mr Saunders detailed: "We picked up car parks and either stacked them or moved them off-site, to do the redevelopment, in my experience that would cause panic because [stadium operators] like to know transport arrangements."
He added, "There was a transport infrastructure upgrade [on the London Underground]... we saw an opportunity for a mixed use residential district within 15 mins of central London."
Andy Burnham added : "I have seen change in public transport footfall [after Co-op Live opened]. It jumped up and never went back."
Discussions have been undertaken with the government regarding transport improvements around Old Trafford, the LDRS understands.
A distinct vision
Elaborating on the regeneration of Wembley, Mr Saunders underscored the developers' early movements and a well-defined master plan for their ambitions.
He recounted: "We bought 86 acres around the old stadium at the point it was being decommissioned. In that time it was being built, we got outline planning permission for 7,500 houses and an outlet park."
Owning the freehold of the land granted the developer authoritative control over the site. That facilitated the launch of their development as 'Wembley Park', securing the support of the local council which was instrumental in advancing the construction works, he noted.
Getting the community on board
A unified vision and brand is helpful when speaking to fans and locals to ensure any new stadium works as a good neighbour as well as for sport, former Everton FC executive Richard Kenyon added.
Mr Kenyon spearheaded an extensive public consultation surrounding the club's forthcoming Hill Dickinson Stadium, which will open next season at Bramley Moore Dock.
"We knew Scousers like to have their say. We embraced that," he explained. "We know football fans want to have their say. We embraced that and brought them into the process early on.
"We had 96pc or 97pc agreement mostly [on public survey questions]. We did that through being really clear on the benefits from the start... everyone understood it was much bigger than football."
The marketing expert also highlighted a commitment to 'meaningful engagement' that exceeded statutory requirements: "We talked to the community through Everton In The Community.
"We did survey after survey for fans. We had the most brilliant architect, so we said to every fan who did a survey, if you answer every single question, you can have face-to-face time with the architect."
He added that over 1,000 supporters seized this opportunity.
