‘It will be like the fight scene at end of Anchorman’ – expert predicts scrap over £2bn contract for new Man Utd stadium

MANCHESTER UNITED's new stadium could create something like “the fight scene at the end of Anchorman” according to Everton's ground designer.

Red Devils co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is keen to build a new 100,000-seat stadium or renovate and expand Sir Bobby Charlton's stand.

A final decision is not expected until next year, but the club has already released images of what an Old Trafford regeneration could look like.

AI images have also been recreated to show what a new Man Utd ground could look like, including a roof and a circular shape.

The plans are expected to cost Ineos around £2 billion.

And Dan Meis, who has designed both Everton's Bramley-Moore Dock and Roma's Stadio della Roma, believes there will be a fierce battle between architects to win the seismic contract.

He told The Times: “I don't know if you saw the fight scene between the rival news crews at the end of Anchorman, but that's what it must be like.”

The Anchorman reference relates to a scene from the hit 2004 film in which a host of famous faces appear in groups for a final showdown.

Will Ferrell's team of reporters from TV station KVWN battle their rivals from other TV newsrooms in an alley.

Foster + Partners, who designed Wembley Stadium, produced drawings of what the ground could look like.

However, the project is still in the early stages of discussions – with a taskforce led by Lord Coe expected to share a “feasibility study” in 2025 detailing options for both a new stadium and the renovation of Old Trafford.

Speaking about the building of a new stadium in February, Ratcliffe said: “It's time someone built a national stadium in the north of England.

“If it is feasible, that would clearly be my preference.

“I would be really excited about the north of England.”

Architects will meet at Old Trafford cricket ground next week for the Stadium Business Design & Development Summit.

But Man Utd's home is not on the agenda at the meeting.