Manchester United and Chelsea are facing the reality that they cannot continue with their current stadium structures. The Premier League’s landscape is modernizing and other teams are making plans to increase capacities with new or extended stands in the next five years. Stadium improvements are becoming more of a necessity as clubs keep pace with the moves of competitors.

Manchester United and Chelsea realistically cannot hope to transform Old Trafford or Stamford Bridge for less than £1 billion, which is in line with what it cost Tottenham Hotspur to deliver their new home in 2019 and also what was needed to complete a rebuild of Real Madrid’s 85,000-capacity Santiago Bernabeu stadium this year. The modern construction projects are much more expensive due to rises in the cost of raw materials and labor, as well as an increased level of quality and expectation.

Stadiums and stands are no longer designed as basic, empty shells just for Saturday afternoons. Now a football club’s home needs to be a driving force for revenue. Tottenham’s new stadium has been transformative for them, as matchday revenue has more than doubled since they left their old stadium. Clubs like Manchester United and Chelsea are also considering major stadium projects to increase their matchday revenue.

These projects are not short-term and can take several years to plan and execute. The cost of the projects can be shaped by factors including inflation, the scope of groundwork, and location. Overall, these modern construction projects are increasingly reliant on huge financial commitments.