Coronation Street bosses have issued a statement following the news that the new £2bn Manchester United stadium will be built right beside where they film the ITV soap. Executives are said to be 'excited' by the plans even though they could disrupt filming schedules.
The proposed location for the new 100,000-seater stadium was unveiled, and it's just a stone's throw from the iconic Weatherfield cobbles. However, show chiefs insisted that all would be fine as the football club strives to transform the Old Trafford area of Manchester.
Minimal Operational Impact Expected
A Coronation Street spokeswoman said that ITV had 'consulted closely' on the Trafford Regeneration Plan. 'As matches and events typically occur on evenings and weekends, we expect operational impact to be minimal and we will schedule filming around any 'wildcard' events, just as we do now,' she explained. 'We welcome this regeneration and are excited to see two iconic British landmarks so close to each other.'
Coronation Street now has five half-hour episodes a week, filmed at pace with very little rehearsal, around eight weeks before they air.
New Stadium District Details
United's proposed new home will sit at the heart of a new Stadium District, approximately 350 metres north-west of the existing Old Trafford stadium. It will be purpose-built for sport, entertainment and year-round activity, with the new stadium aiming to serve as the flagship landmark of the wider Trafford Wharfside development. The area will also get 'new and improved' public transport links plus a new walking and cycling infrastructure.
Announcing the project, Collete Roche, CEO of New Stadium Development at Manchester United, said it should create 48,000 local jobs and 15,000 new homes, and had the potential to offer a £7.3bn-per-annum boost to the UK economy. However, fans were dismayed that the stadium will no longer be called Old Trafford; it is not yet known what the new name will be.
Preserving Heritage and Fan Experience
'The publication of the Wharfside Masterplan marks another significant milestone in our journey to create a new world-class home for Manchester United at the heart of a vibrant and transformational district for Trafford and Greater Manchester,' Roche said. 'Together with our partners, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver a destination that creates lasting benefits for supporters, local communities and the wider region for decades to come.'
Because it is located alongside Old Trafford, she said it would enable them to 'preserve the heritage, traditions and matchday rituals that are so important to our supporters, while also providing the connectivity and infrastructure required to deliver a truly world-class fan experience'.
