Source: REUTERS/Molly Darlington
[Saba Sports News] According to British media reports, Manchester United plans to turn the renovated Old Trafford stadium into England’s “Northern Wembley” and compete with Wembley for hosting major boxing events. Last Saturday night, 96,000 spectators flocked to Wembley Stadium to watch the boxing match between Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois, setting a new attendance record. Manchester United believes that the new stadium, which will have over 100,000 seats and can accommodate 110,000 spectators, could make Manchester the boxing capital of the UK. An assessment by the Oxford Economics Institute estimates that this £2 billion stadium will generate £7.3 billion in revenue for the UK, create 92,000 jobs, and attract 1.8 million tourists annually, which would be a significant benefit for the region. Meanwhile, Manchester United also hopes to save up to £10 million annually by cutting 250 jobs, with the funds reinvested into football operations. However, the human cost of layoffs is harder to quantify.