Green light for stadium upgrade
The new stadium would be the biggest club ground in the UK
A £45m extension to Manchester United´s Old Trafford stadium has been given the go-ahead.
Trafford Council planning committee gave the green light to the extension, which will add another 7,900 seats, on Thursday night.
Work will start at the end of the season with the development due to open in August 2007.
But some councillors say it will create misery for residents if issues such as increased traffic are not addressed.
Only the new Wembley Stadium - with a capacity of 90,000 - will be larger in the UK, although Old Trafford will still be the biggest club ground in Britain.
We believe this will be of huge benefit to the club, the fans and the Trafford Borough Council
Phil Townsend
Manchester United
United want the added capacity to bolster their status as one of European football´s superpowers, and the extra seats will be worth an extra £5m per season.
In addition to the new seats, extra hospitality suites are planned.
" This is great news," said United director of communications Phil Townsend.
" We believe this will be of huge benefit to the club, the fans and the Trafford Borough Council."
On va donc bien atteindre les 76.000 places...