The plans include a luxury Five Star hotel, restaurants, health club, sports bar and a regional casino on the Trafford Park side of the ground. Coupled with the successful Lowry Centre and Imperial War Museum North, the plans would create the largest cultural village outside central London.
There is provision for a new Metrolink station to allow a quick transfer from all parts of Greater Manchester, improved bus routes and additional parking spaces on the site.
Further plans would regenerate a wider area around the stadium, including new leisure, recreation and entertainment-based businesses in the Quays area to benefit local communities.
Manchester United’s commercial director, Andy Anson, said: “There’s a lot of work still to be done. In particular, we are looking carefully at how it would change the dynamics of the site and how it would affect our fans on matchdays. Any plans will of course consider the social issues associated with gambling and we will take expert advice on putting an agreed plan in place to deal with those matters comprehensively.”
Trafford Council’s executive has agreed in principle to support the joint proposal and has made an initial bid for a licence for a regional-scale casino in Trafford.
Rodney Brody, UK representative for Las Vegas Sands, said: "The project has the potential to create up to 2,000 new jobs and an outstanding new entertainment and leisure complex for tourists and the local community, who will benefit from a range of new facilities."
