Another thing they like to brag about is being the biggest club in the world. From a neutrals perspective the stadium doesn't portray that image. That's why a new build and increased capacity makes sense to portray that image they have.
Old Trafford revamp/could be torn down and rebuilt according to Glazer plans
- Thread starter GE
- Start date
They could widen the treads and have larger seats. Personally, I'd keep the South Stand and have the North Stand three tiers extend all the way to the South Stand and perhaps a retractable roof, they'll have to rebuild the stands behind the goals but it would look Camp Nou amazing. They could do it phases whilst staying at OT and keeping the history and nostalgia of the South Stand.
I don’t understand the clamour for new stadiums. I go to football to watch a good game of football, preferably standing up. I can do without pies and drink for a couple of hours. The Emirates already needs refurbishment and the Spurs ground looks good today but the team is falling to pieces. Invest in the team first.
I’m 5’7 and find that legroom is really cramped but then we stand a lot of the time.
I suppose in the short term at least, more safe standing (if the experiment passes) could aleviate that for a lot.
They flip side to that the is the more modern approach is a little more room but also considerably steeper, so you're looking at the seat in front being ankle level rather than just below knee level, so you're actually much more likely to trip and fall when celebrating a winner rather than just bruising your shins a bit. If you don't go steeper to avoid that issue but still keep the additional leg room you end up with a ground like Wembley, the Emirates and that hole West Ham play at which are just shite places to watch football.
And it's all relative, space is reasonable compared with most PL grounds. Anything that encourages people to stand up to watch the game isn't a bad thing at OT.
I would support building a new stadium on the site of Old Trafford.
The Bernabeau was rebuilt, San Siro is going to be bulldozed and 'The Cathedral' built in its place. If Madrid and Milan can undertake serious renovations to their stadiums why can't Manchester United?
Old Trafford looks tired. It feels tired. 20 years ago it was ahead of everything else. Now..? The club owns enough land around Old Trafford that it could build a new stadium literally a stone's throw from the current one. That's what should happen.
The Bernabeau was rebuilt, San Siro is going to be bulldozed and 'The Cathedral' built in its place. If Madrid and Milan can undertake serious renovations to their stadiums why can't Manchester United?
Old Trafford looks tired. It feels tired. 20 years ago it was ahead of everything else. Now..? The club owns enough land around Old Trafford that it could build a new stadium literally a stone's throw from the current one. That's what should happen.
I'd want us to build something like the superdome in Dallas, complete with retractable roof and retractable pitch for NFL games (bring the Bucs over once a year).
I'm talking about a 110,000 seater stadium, state of the art facilities, public transport links, train/tram, built as a mecca for football. Incredible stadium tour, phenomenal player area, directors boxes, seating, safe standing, stadium heating, incredible food etc.
I'm talking about a 110,000 seater stadium, state of the art facilities, public transport links, train/tram, built as a mecca for football. Incredible stadium tour, phenomenal player area, directors boxes, seating, safe standing, stadium heating, incredible food etc.
It is fit for purpose though, it's an excellent stadium and is probably just over 20 minutes from both Carrington and Old Trafford (Carrington to Old Trafford is probably after 15 minutes for reference). It's a really smart stadium and is almost double the size of the "City Academy Stadium" where their women's team play.
I work at a firm that does all the graphics for Tottenham and the NFL games there when they come over, I have to say seeing the plans and the stadium it’s pretty impressive.
I know it’s probably a moot point in the grand scheme of things but things like the bars and food places they have in there are amazing and drinks at reasonable prices to entice the fans in before the game rather than use traditional boozers around the ground, which I know some people would frown on, local economy/small independent businesses losing out etc but if the glazers really wanted to milk the shit out of say a new stadium this is the way to do it.
The glass roof walk seems popular too and then you have shit like the cheese room and the players tunnel experience, all very gimmicky but a really good way of generating money I guess.
I know a few Tottenham fans, a mate who is a season ticket holder and they all love it and speak highly of the atmosphere and general match day experience.
Interesting I am about 6 foot 1 and if I sit down at HT comfortably I'll be kneeing the person in front of me in the head, further to this the old boy who sits beside us must be a good 6 foot 5 and after his knee replacement he can't sit straight in the seat so there is a massive spacing issue.
I get that people want to keep OT but Bayern moved and others you'll get used to it and if they knock down OT and build it in the same place I have no qualms about it.
Lastly at this point the stadium itself has been knocked down and added to or rebuilt a few times just since the 80's what part of the stadium is actually still original maybe the South stand only.
I don’t think city will be happy about Utd filling more seats than their own team.
I mean, I want an incredible stadium that is imposing and world beating. The largest in the country, the best acoustics, just the best in class.
In principle I would have no issue with the idea of Old Trafford being torn down and a new stadium built. History matters, but nowhere near as much as the future does. And in time the new stadium will have its own history.
But if we were going down that route of trading off Old Trafford then I'd want the new stadium to actually be the best. As in designed with the degree of thought, care, ambition and (crucially) investment that would make it a step beyond the more recent stadiums we currently use as reference points. Because while those stadiums are relatively "new", they were actually designed over a decade ago in many cases. I would assume the limits of what's capable in terms of stadium design have moved on even since then.
Whereas I worry that what we'd basically get is a cookie-cutter version of all those other stadiums, just a lot later than those other clubs got them.
But if we were going down that route of trading off Old Trafford then I'd want the new stadium to actually be the best. As in designed with the degree of thought, care, ambition and (crucially) investment that would make it a step beyond the more recent stadiums we currently use as reference points. Because while those stadiums are relatively "new", they were actually designed over a decade ago in many cases. I would assume the limits of what's capable in terms of stadium design have moved on even since then.
Whereas I worry that what we'd basically get is a cookie-cutter version of all those other stadiums, just a lot later than those other clubs got them.
This is exactly what we should do. We can continue to play at Old Trafford while the new stadium is built.
All true.
In hindsight United should have asked Manchester council to include a clause in their agreement with City that the stadium would be shared for a temporary period if necessary. I doubt that would have been a deal-breaker for the Arabs, who were anxious to appear community-supportive at the time.
As said previously, anything to ensure people stand is a bonus
But equally per my last post the alternate options pose major issues too with the newer modern approaches being more leg room but considerably steeper which is far more of a trip risk than the current OT seating or more leg room but no steeper such as the Emirates and Wembley which end up being shite places to watch football.As for Bayern as an option, they'd been playing at a Olympic stadium for 30 years and wanted a football specific stadium. It's hardly a relevant example.
In the interests of fairness, at OT the beer is already cheaper than 90% of the pubs around the ground and pretty much every other stadium in the league at £3 a pint.
Is the smaller stadium a basketball court?
The hierarchy are sensing some fans frustration at loss of top 4 and players like Pogba. This news is utter bollocks to gauge fans support. When you consider the cost of a full rebuild, length of time, alternative sites etc, there is no way on earth the Glazers are going to fund it. It’s way to big a job to get sponsorship for too.
Absolute bollocks under these owners.
Absolute bollocks under these owners.
The OT site is effectively 'locked in' by a triangular shaped containment area.
A (straight) railway line on one side and a (meandering) canal on the other, both of which eventually almost converge as you head East (into central Manchester) hence the 'ground' itself therefore sits nearer to the apex of the restraining triangle than to its base (which is formed by) the West end /Stretford end and beyond that car parks W1,W2 and N3 etc. then acres of business/warehouse developments.
Ever since the early sixties various ideas for expanding the stadium meant development on three sides, West (Stretford end, a third tier), North (now SAF stand) extra tier, plus change of paddocks to seating and East end (use to be scoreboard end) again third tier added. the only change to South side was seating in paddock areas, and additional commercial development , restaurants, Munich Tunnel etc. all this limited by railway issues. It is rumored that the club has been buying up property on the opposite side of the railway (as houses came empty) so that some extension to the South stand could be achieved with modern building materials and heavy plant.
A new stadium would cost billions, not just to build, but to clear the surrounding land and 10,000 extra seats are not going to pay for that.
Glazers are making noises, but a new lick of paint, some screens and some standing areas are the best we can hope for!
A (straight) railway line on one side and a (meandering) canal on the other, both of which eventually almost converge as you head East (into central Manchester) hence the 'ground' itself therefore sits nearer to the apex of the restraining triangle than to its base (which is formed by) the West end /Stretford end and beyond that car parks W1,W2 and N3 etc. then acres of business/warehouse developments.
Ever since the early sixties various ideas for expanding the stadium meant development on three sides, West (Stretford end, a third tier), North (now SAF stand) extra tier, plus change of paddocks to seating and East end (use to be scoreboard end) again third tier added. the only change to South side was seating in paddock areas, and additional commercial development , restaurants, Munich Tunnel etc. all this limited by railway issues. It is rumored that the club has been buying up property on the opposite side of the railway (as houses came empty) so that some extension to the South stand could be achieved with modern building materials and heavy plant.
A new stadium would cost billions, not just to build, but to clear the surrounding land and 10,000 extra seats are not going to pay for that.
Glazers are making noises, but a new lick of paint, some screens and some standing areas are the best we can hope for!
This for me would be the best option, still bring in the money from 70k plus crowds.
Building a new state of the art Stadium would be a massive undertaking, seen a few prices mentioned 500m+. Spurs new one cost £1B !!!! with costs rising the cost would be higher, 1.3 or 1.5B, no way any club could undertake a build costing that much.
Time will tell, but I suspect we will end up with some half arsed re-furb.
Found this, I always thought this was the reason.
How United became the 'Rags'
by Gary James’ from "Manchester - The Greatest City".
It appears the name was given to them by their own fans.
During the 1930-31 season, United were in a wretched state. The club teetered on the brink of bankruptcy and were attracting crowds of less than 4,000 for some games - despite still being in Division 1.
Harry Hughes, a City fan working in Trafford, tells this story:
Old Trafford is Iconic, but I'd love for them to knock it down and build a new modern stadium, it may cost lots but it will go some way to repair relationship with fans.
We are literally getting left behind in terms of stadiums.
We are literally getting left behind in terms of stadiums.
They are more likely to dismantle it and sell it for scrap than build a new one. They have put the square root of FA into the stadium in the past 15 years.
I literally had to switch seats last time I was there cos I’m 6ft 5in. North Stand lower in particular has a distinct lack of leg room.
It‘s fine wanting a bigger, safer more comfortable stadium for the match day experience as long as you can park your car within five miles of the place which is impossible now, and be able to get home on the same day you left. I haven’t been for four years or so, but it was cramped, smelly and not a pleasant day out. How much more debt would the G,Azeri load onto the club if they did build a new stadium?
Spurs got unlucky with opening a new stadium right as Covid hit and then had to play with it empty.
The team hasn’t directly suffered from the stadium build it’s been poor transfers that has done that.
Utd could find a £1bn stadium. Spurs was more expensive for being in London and how expensive land is there. We’ve already bought the land up around the ground so it should cost more necessarily. Broke Barca have still been able find €1bn renovation.
One thing that has been a positive is that soulless bowls quickly fell out of favour. The Emirates looked good at first but you can see that in subsequent years most teams tried to do something more interesting or iconic. Huge single tiers at one end, architecturally interesting features, novelty etc all play a part in designs now it feels like.
Old Trafford was a 'soulless bowl' in 1915 or circa 94.
Just catching up on this story. I don't believe for a second thar the Glazer family will develop a brand new stadium, imagine the cost.
You thinking of any stadiums in particular in terms of being architecturally interesting?
If we're playing along with the idea that a new stadium would even be a possibility, it would be interesting to see what modern stadium designs people actually like given the complaints more "soulless" stadium designs attract.
Think it is that some people do not like any sort of change. Sorry but you cannot say OT is architecturally interesting, unless you love a complete hotch potch of stands. I agree that I would not like an Emirates Stadium. Like the idea of one stand being just one tier to create a good atmosphere. They need to create something that treats the fans like humans not fee paying animals to be herded into as tight a space as possible to be served crap food and be grateful for it. I know it might sound daft, but I would love a sort of memorial park like Yankee Stadium to commemorate all our great players, not just certain ones. Make it the best stadium out there.
Whatever we do, it needs to be full on state of the art, like Disneyland for United Fans.
Roller coasters, swimming pools, hotels, restaurants, shopping mall, the full works.
Roller coasters, swimming pools, hotels, restaurants, shopping mall, the full works.
Ball pit?
I love Old Trafford, but the stadium is far behind so many others, that if a rebuild meant OT would be one of the top stadiums in the world and provided many sources of interaction for the fans (aside from playing Mouse Trap and bring a bucket to the game day) it would ensure more revenue and engagement with the fans.
I would settle for a partial rebuild and full refurbishment also, if it was possible.
But eventually we would have to rebuild, so why not do it now instead of 15 years time?
I would settle for a partial rebuild and full refurbishment also, if it was possible.
But eventually we would have to rebuild, so why not do it now instead of 15 years time?
Damn right. Go kart track, arcades, laser quest
As long as the architecture is interesting. A lot of these super stadiums are generic as hell.