United to finance ground expansion
| United's expansion plans will see Old Trafford's capacity rise to 76,000 |
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MANCHESTER, England -- Manchester United will finance the expansion of Old Trafford with existing funds and do not need to borrow, the Premier League club have said.
United have been given the go-ahead to install a further 7,900 seats in a £39m ($73.42m) scheme which will increase the capacity of Old Trafford to 76,000.
"This investment is coming out of cash resources, not borrowings, so the revenue that comes in will go straight to the club," said director of communications Phil Townsend.
"We turned away 12,500 supporters every game last year and this gives us the chance to get more supporters watching the team on a Saturday."
The work, expected to start in April and be completed by the start of the 2006/07 season, will involve filling in the open corners of the ground beside the North East and North West stands.
The extra seating will make Old Trafford the biggest sports stadium in Britain behind the new Wembley.