Soccer

THE Premier League has become a dominant force in European football, attracting the best players, biggest viewing figures and making the most money.And as the league continues to grow – both financially and in reputation – clubs are trying to grow alongside it.Tottenham have set the standard for modern stadiums with their £1billion homeCredit: EPAFulham have added a swimming pool to Craven CottageCredit: Fulham FCGone are the days of being able to get away with a warm pint and a cold pie at half time as fans try and cram into the terraces to sit on wooden seats.Now teams want architectural masterpieces as their homes with luxury hospitality areas, top tier food and drink, and a concourse that would make you debate even going back out to watch the second half.Tottenham have set the standard with their £1BILLION stadium built in 2019, fit with a retractable NFL pitch, in-house micro brewery and the perfect view from every seat.While other clubs have started to renovate their historic grounds, such as Fulham putting a SWIMMING POOL in their new Riverside Stand at Craven Cottage.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLNobody wants to be left behind in the new revolution of what a football ground can look like, with EIGHT Premier League clubs now working on plans to improve their facilities too.Here SunSport breaks down what those eight clubs are planning and just how much it could all cost…MANCHESTER UNITED Cost: £2billionOpening date: 2030Capacity: 100,000Manchester United unveiled plans to build a 100,000-seater stadiumOld Trafford will be demolished and new ground will be built on adjacent landThe new ground promises to be the largest football stadium in EnglandUnited have vowed to build the fan experience zone of the futureSir Jim Ratcliffe believes United should have the best stadium in the worldMan Utd have the biggest club stadium in the UK, but they want it to be even bigger.Most read in FootballThe Red Devils announced earlier this year that they are planning a £2BILLION project that will see them build the ‘Wembley of the North’.United’s execs, led by minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, are planning on making the stadium large enough to house 100,000 FANS.The club have put a rather ambitious five-year timeframe on the new stadium, especially given their dire financial straits at the moment.Architects at Foster and Partners, who will design the project, said the stadium would feature an umbrella design and a new public plaza that is “twice the size of Trafalgar Square”.Man Utd had explored the idea of expanding Old Trafford, but instead landed on the decision to create what will be the largest football stadium in the country – gazumping Wembley’s 90,000-seat capacity.It won’t just be an incredible stadium either, United have also confirmed the surrounding area will be regenerated as part of a joint venture with the the government and local council – including the addition of 17,000 new homes.As for the stadium itself, concept images tease a huge wraparound scoreboard, along with a three-storey museum and canal-side restaurants as part of a vast fan village.Things haven’t got underway just yet, but when they do United will be able to continue playing at Old Trafford during the construction process, before demolishing the historic ground once they move into their new home.Sir Jim Ratcliffe said of the incredible plans: “Our current stadium has served us brilliantly for the past 115 years, but it has fallen behind the best arenas in world sport.”By building next to the existing site, we will be able to preserve the essence of Old Trafford, while creating a truly state-of-the-art stadium that transforms the fan experience, only footsteps from our historic home.”MANCHESTER CITYCost: £300millionOpening date: 2025/26 seasonCapacity: Over 60,000Inside Man City’s £300MILLION new stadium upgrade with futuristic Etihad project to rival AnfieldManchester City are redeveloping the Etihad StadiumCredit: Man CityCity are in the midst of an incredible redevelopment of the North StandCredit: Man CityThe Etihad will have the largest safe-standing are in the Premier League after the redevelopment is completeCredit: Man CityThe project will also add a fan park for supporters on matchdaysCredit: Man CityWork has already started on expanding the North StandCredit: RexJust four miles down the road from United’s Old Trafford is another stadium in the midst of a mega redevelopment.Neighbours and rivals Manchester City have been investing their unlimited pot of cash into turning the Etihad Stadium into one of the best arenas in world football.At its current reduced capacity of 52,900, due to the ongoing work on a new expansion, the Etihad is only the seventh largest capacity football stadium in England – not particularly fitting for the best team in the country over the last seven years.Plans to redevelop and add more seats in the North Stand would likely see it become the fifth largest ground in the country, boasting a similar capacity to title rivals like Arsenal and Liverpool’s grounds.The plans, which are due to be completed during the 2025/26 season, will reportedly add around 7,000 seats to the stadium.But it’s not just about more fans, it’s also about increasing the noise and atmosphere in process. For City, that means adding a huge standing area of the Etihad crowd.That expansion will include 3,000 safe-standing rail seats, making it the Premier League’s largest safe standing area.Away from adding more seats, City are also adding brand new hospitality area, which will house 800 guests and include a 500-seat food hall and a premium bar.Plus fans can look forward to an incredible Sky Bar with views overlooking the pitch and a stadium roof walk experience.Work is also underway on the ‘City Square fan zone’, a 3,000- capacity fan zone that will offer up food and drink as well as screens for supporters to watch the match on the Etihad campus.A new club shop and a museum will also be added to the surrounding area to help improve on the matchday experience.And if you’re wondering where you can stay nearby to be close to all the action then City have you covered – they’re also building a 400-bed hotel.LEEDS UNITEDCost: £100million (estimated)Opening date: Late 2030Capacity: 53,000Leeds released mock-ups of their home ground renovationThe stadium will see a significant increase in capacityCredit: X @LUFCThe estimated final capacity of Elland Road will be 53,000Credit: X @LUFCThe plans are set to be completed in 2030Credit: X @LUFCLeeds United secured a return to the Premier League thanks to their 100-point tally in the Championship this season.And along with their promotion back into the top flight, Leeds have announced plans for a mega renovation of their iconic Elland Road stadium.The Yorkshire club have revealed plans to rake their current capacity of 37,645 up to an estimated 53,000 – making it one of the largest grounds in the country.Concept art released by Leeds shows a new look to the 128-year-old stadium.New stands will tower over the old brick of the ground and make for a combination of history and future for the club now owned by 49ers Enterprises – the ownership group in charge of the NFL franchise San Francisco 49ers. An increase of nearly 20,000 seats – which will help burn through the club’s 26,000-strong season ticket waiting list – will mean updates to the West and North Stands and a change to the South Stand.While there is no specific details of what additions will be made yet, Leeds have confirmed they will be making improvements to the general admission and hospitality facilities.A statement told that fans can expect “diverse range of spaces and experiences” that will “encourage early arrivals and extended stays”.Leeds have revealed that work will begin this September, but changes to the stands won’t start until 2026.However, the club have estimated that the renovation won’t be completed until late 2030.At the moment there has been no estimated figure for how much the project could cost the club, but similar renovations have exceeded £100million.ASTON VILLACost: Over £100millionOpening date: Second half of 2027Capacity: Over 50,000Aston Villa announced plans to expand the North Stand at Villa ParkCredit: Aston Villa FCVilla want the stadium to breach the 50,000-seat markCredit: Aston Villa FCThe club have claimed there will be more space and faster serviceCredit: Aston Villa FCA new club shop was opened earlier this seasonCredit: X @AVFCOfficialAston Villa to build Premier League’s largest beer hall in ‘The Warehouse’Credit: X @AVFCOfficialA mockup image shows what the inside of ‘The Warehouse’ could look likeCredit: X @AVFCOfficialVilla Park is one of the Premier League’s most iconic football grounds, standing in place since 1897 with its iconic red brick facade. But one issue with having such a long history as a ground is that things start to become outdated.Villa have now announced that they want to modernise their ground, changing the look and feel of the concourse and adding over 7,000 seats to the stadium. The Birmingham club want to breach the 50,000-seat mark, leaving their current 42,660-set offering in the past.For Villa, it’s not just about getting more bums on seats on a matchday, but also allowing them to be better hosts for the 2028 Euros.Villa Park is one of the host stadia for the tournament and will have a new look for the fans across Europe who come to visit.Mockups of the plans show a new modernised exterior, a brand new North Stand wrapping into the Trinity Stand and a two-story club shop.While there will also be the addition of a new multi-use space called ‘The Warehouse’ – which will include a new Fan Zone destination.Villa plan on putting the Premier League’s largest beer hall inside The Warehouse.LEICESTER CITY*Cost: UnknownOpening date: Delayed, work to begin 2026Capacity: 40,000Leicester revealed plans to extend the King Power stadium in 2021Credit: Leicester City Football ClubThe club hope to increase the capacity to 40,000Credit: Leicester City Football ClubThe Foxes have had to delay the plansCredit: Leicester City Football ClubThe proposals also include plans for a hotel and indoor arenaCredit: Leicester City Football ClubLeicester may not be in the Premier League next season after their relegation this term, but they are strong contenders to bounce straight back up.Their plans for a stadium development of the King Power were announced all the way back in 2021, and have been delayed multiple times.The Foxes announced a project to increase the stadium capacity from 32,261 up to 40,000 – with a major change to the look of the ground too.Initial plans showed a bubble-like look on the roof of the ground, a custom-built fanzone, a flasgship superstore and a 220-room hotel and business centre right next to the stadium.While the proposal also detailed a 6,000-capacity multi-purpose arena that would be side by side with the King Power, with plans to host concerts and indoor sporting events.However, the club were supposed to break ground in 2023, with an earliest expected completion date of late 2024.We’re now in mid 2025 and no construction has begun, Leicester have been relegated from the Premier League twice and work starting on the ambitious plans have been delayed until at least 2026.There is currently no estimate on how much the project could set back the Leicester owners.NOTTINGHAM FORESTCost: £130millionOpening date: Unknown, work estimated to begin in 2026Capacity: 42,000Nottingham Forest are set to renovate the City GroundCredit: RexIn 2019, Nottingham Forest produced a computer-generated image of their potential new Peter Taylor StandForest added hospitality pods made from shipping containers this seasonCredit: AlamyNottingham Forest are back in Europe, having secured a Conference League spot with their efforts under Nuno Espirito Santo this season.And the Tricky Trees are looking to make some changes to The City Ground that would make the stadium fit in alongside Europe’s elite.The main focus of the project would be to increase the capacity by over 10,000 people to reach the 42,000 mark – a task that could cost around £130million.Forest want to do so by extending he Bridgford Stand and replacing the Peter Taylor Stand with a new two-tiered 10,000-seater structure.The club shop and offices sit adjacent to the ground, and are set to be knocked down and replaced by a stunning 19-storey apartment block.This means the club shop will be moved and a museum showcasing the club’s two European Cup triumphs will be added.The Reds also want to install solar panels on the Brian Clough Stand to generate their own power for matchdays.There will also be a “pedestrianised plaza” around the new City Ground.Owner Evangelos Marinakis has his eye on eventually increasing the capacity to 50,000 should the initial changes prove a success.No date had been put in place for the plans to be completed, but internal documents have suggested work could begin in summer 2026.CRYSTAL PALACECost: £150millionOpening date: 2027Capacity: 34,000Crystal Palace are set to build a new main standCredit: Crystal Palace/MDCConstruction work will begin at the end of this seasonCredit: Crystal Palace FCA new away changing room is currently being builtCredit: Crystal Palace/MDCNewly crowned FA Cup winners Crystal Palace are yet another club with grand plans of expanding their ground.Selhurst Park currently holds around 26,000 supporters, but proposals have detailed ambitions to boost that to 34,000.The Eagles plan on doing it by building a new Main Stand, with construction set to begin this summer.The new Main Stand will hold 13,500 supporters, compared to 5,200 currently housed in the stand that was built in 1924.While artist impressions show it will have a classy glass exterior adorned with a huge Eagle logo.Palace chairman Steve Parish said last summer he wants the club to have “a stadium the whole of South London can be proud of”.As well as the new stand, Palace are also building a new club shop, a museum, a cafe, new dressing rooms and a fanpark. It’s thought that the project will total around £150million with a proposed completion date in 2027.NEWCASTLE UNITEDCost: Up to £3billionOpening date: 2031/2032 seasonCapacity: Estimated at 70,000Inside Newcastle’s £3BILLION new stadium plans with St James’ Park project to rival Old TraffordNewcastle are facing a dilemma on whether to expand their iconic ground or find a new homeCredit: GettyThe iconic stadium currently boasts a capacity of 52,304Credit: AlamyAlthough no official plans or pictures have been released by Newcastle just yet, the Magpies are planning on either renovating St James’ Park or building a brand new stadium as they continue their development under the Saudi Public Investment Fund ownership.A world-class stadium would help Newcastle fit in with the teams they’re trying to compete with – in a similar fashion to Tottenham’s move to their state-of-the-art ground from White Hart Lane.Staying put would mean a huge redevelopment of the Gallowgate End, while leaving would mean building a brand new home elsewhere.COO Brad Miller has promised a “once-in-a-generation” investment into the redevelopment and that kind of cash will be needed to carry out what would be ambitious plans.The idea of a redevelopment would be to raise the capacity of the ground to around 60-65,000.While the idea of a new ground would mean that Newcastle could host around 70,000 fans, effectively increasing their capacity by almost 18,000 seats – that’s more than both Brentford and Bournemouth can fit in their entire stadiums at the moment.The most likely place to move would be into the adjacent Leazes Park, however Newcastle are set to face legal hurdles and heavy resistance from members of the public who want to protect the Grade II listed park.As a result their plans would see them use just a small section of the park with the rest of the new ground overlapping with St James’ current footprint – plus a new parkland would be created where the current pitch is situated.A redevelopment of the Gallowgate has been mooted to cost anywhere up to £1BILLION, which is a crazy number in comparison to other expansion projects in recent times.Liverpool spent just £80m on their Anfield Road Stand expansion in 2024, and Fulham spent £120m on their Riverside Stand.Read More on The SunBut that kind of money may seem worth it when you learn that an entirely new stadium has been estimated at a cost of between £2BILLION and £3BILLION.Reports have suggested that the club would be targeting the 2031/32 season for a brand new stadium, but would likely see an expansion completed in five years instead of seven. 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