The blueprint for Sir Jim Ratcliffe's new stadium plan? SoFi has a 120-yard screen, jaw-dropping luxury suites and a futuristic roof... while taxpayers and naming rights could cover Man United's £2bn bill

Manchester United have moved a step closer to demolishing Old Trafford and creating a new state-of-the-art stadium that would overtake Wembley as the biggest football ground in the country.

News that United's grand plan is moving ahead and could be announced by the end of the year emerged on the club's US tour in Los Angeles, where they faced Arsenal at the SoFi Stadium at the weekend.

The spectacular complex built by Arsenal and LA Rams owner Stan Kroenke at a total cost of around $5.5billion (£4.3bn) is one of a number of stadia United have studied as they create a blueprint for the new Old Trafford.

But what exact elements could Sir Jim Ratcliffe take inspiration from?

Roof

Made of 300 translucent panels, the roof - open on three sides - shades fans and channels the sea breeze. Some 27,000 embedded LED pucks allow the roof to display aerial visuals.

Videoboard

The world's biggest at 120 yards long, 75 yards wide and weighs 1,000 tonnes. Ocular 4k display in 80m pixels. 

Luxury suites

260 in total, including next to the pitch. Luxury amenities. One seat in a suite for the 2022 SuperBowl cost $100,000!

Pitch

Sits 30 metres below ground level. Seven million cubic metres of soil were excavated during construction.

So what are the new developments?

It was already known that United shared Sir Jim Ratcliffe's vision to flatten Old Trafford and build a new stadium, rather than redevelop the existing one.

A task force set up to drive the project - led by Lord Coe - has now come to the conclusion that a new build would be better for the club and surrounding community. 

United want a 100,000-capacity stadium to protect their status as the biggest club in the country and create what Ratcliffe calls the 'Wembley of the North' if they can fund the £2bn project.

Who is paying for it (and how)?

This is the question that could decide whether United build a brand new Old Trafford or give the existing stadium a facelift.

They simply don't have the £2bn needed for a new build. United insist they are not looking for hand-outs but believe there could be opportunities for public-private partnership to make the new stadium a catalyst for wider generation around the area.

United are also looking into investment or sponsorship from the private sector. That could include selling naming rights to Old Trafford - which they would only do in consultation with fans.

Will United still play at Old Trafford during the build?

One of the benefits of building a new stadium is that United could continue to play at Old Trafford in front of 75,000 sell-out crowds until it was completed - probably in 2030. 

Redevelopment would be more complicated and potentially take even longer. At best, this would significantly impact the capacity of Old Trafford. At worst, United would have to leave and play elsewhere.

How has the plan been influenced by other stadiums?

United have been in contact with the team behind the SoFi Stadium for some time, and have also followed the Chicago Bears' plan for a new home on the city's waterfront as part of a wider regeneration project.

They have studied arenas on tour in Australia, travelled to the Bernabeu in Madrid and visited Wembley and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.