Manchester United boss inspired new Bristol City stadium

The design for Bristol City's new stadium has been inspired by one of the country's greatest ever managers – Sir Alex Ferguson.

The architect in charge of designing the planned 30,000-seat stadium at Ashton Vale spoke to the Manchester United boss at a match, it has emerged.

Sir Alex told him to base the new ground on his favourite English stadium – not United's Old Trafford ground but Villa Park, home to Aston Villa.

At an exhibition to show plans for the £50 million stadium to fans and residents yesterday, lead architect Mike Trice told the Post that he met Sir Alex at a match in Milton Keynes, in another stadium designed by Mr Trice's firm HOK.

The pair discussed Villa's Birmingham home, with Sir Alex telling Mr Trice that it was the continuous ring of seats on the stadium's lower tier which was responsible for what he called one of the best atmospheres in English football.

And Mr Trice hopes that Bristol City's new ground, which has a similar structure to Villa Park, will generate a vibe to match the club's lofty ambitions.

Fans viewing the plans at Ashton Gate yesterday cautiously welcomed the plans for the new stadium, which will border the David Lloyd fitness centre and the Long Ashton park and ride.

Many were excited about the prospects of moving to a ground which could herald a new era for their club, which has the potential to expand its capacity to 42,000 and which could even host World Cup matches if the FA successfully bids to hold the tournament in 2018.

But others, particularly fans who have supported City at Ashton Gate for decades said they were concerned about the club's future.

Mike Swain, 70 from Brislington, said: "The new stadium doesn't really excite me at all – it looks a bit of a mish-mash.

"I suppose we have got to go with it but I can't see it being ready by 2012, not with the way things are at the moment. I'm worried about the transport issue as well – how are all the fans going to get there?"

Mr Trice, whose company has also designed Arsenal's Emirates Stadium, the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, the new roof at Wimbledon's Centre Court, the new Wembley and the 2012 Olympic Stadium, said the new stadium would be one of the best he had created.

He said: "We are trying to create all the benefits of a full bowl and of different stands as well.

"Sir Alex holds Villa Park in very high esteem because of the way the stands are set up and we want to do the same thing here.

"It's a good time to build now because builders are cheap, they want work and a two-year contract is highly attractive."