ManU could sell stadium naming rights to help fund Old Trafford refurb or new stadium

Premier League club Manchester United are “considering selling the naming rights” to a refurbished Old Trafford or a newly-built stadium as minority owner Jim Ratcliffe “seeks to drive up revenues to fund the project,” according to Adam Crafton of THE ATHLETIC. The club has also held “exploratory talks” with major financial institutions, including Bank of America, as they “explore a series of funding options to raise the capital required to cover a potentially multi-billion pound project.” Sources said that while discussions have “taken place, no decisions have yet been made.” Crafton notes it is unclear at this stage whether the club or INEOS “would carry the burden of fresh debt” if money is borrowed to fund the infrastructure project. ManU’s financial results posted in Q2 of the financial year in March stated that the club still has debt totaling $825.29M. The club’s 114-year-old stadium has always been known as Old Trafford and the club has “never before sold its stadium naming rights.” Crafton notes in the event of a “refurbishment,” one option may be for the club to “retain the name Old Trafford but seek to have an associated partner.” But if they build a new stadium, the club is “open to selling the name altogether,” which they hope would “command tens of millions of pounds” (THE ATHLETIC, 6/26).