Manchester United officials looking at plans to expand Old Trafford capacity to 88,000 | Scrapped?

What will happen first?


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choccy77

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I guess they could, with today's technology, build up on the current footprint of the South Stand.

Such as:
I've been there, it's a nice on the outside, inside it's really bland and basically just concrete, it's got a nice unqiue roof though.

Sat in Evra's seat in the changing room :-)
 

Flytan

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Not been to Old Trafford sadly but isn't the issue more about it being dated/seats sucking rather than the actual number of seats? Seems like they're going about it in the wrong way to me.
 

Trizy

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The main stand of the Vicente Calderón was partially built over the M-30 motorway. In theory, you need stronger reinforcement, better vibration absorption and heightened security measures (a train explosion and subsequent derailment impact could injure or even kill thousands in one go once if the stand collapses) for the freight line.
Believe it or not you can get explosion proof paint. In fact, a lot of buildings with underground car parks have them in London.

Everything you mentioned can be achieved. It's just the cost that's the problem.
 

LilyWhiteSpur

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How would most fans feel about a new Stadium, would it be in the same site? A complete move away? Naming rights? I was very sad to see White Hart Lane go, the older stadiums definitely have a charm/atmosphere that the newer stadiums don't. I'm guessing a complete new build would be incredably difficult as the current site is very tight for space.
 

Member 5225

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How would most fans feel about a new Stadium, would it be in the same site? A complete move away? Naming rights? I was very sad to see White Hart Lane go, the older stadiums definitely have a charm/atmosphere that the newer stadiums don't. I'm guessing a complete new build would be incredably difficult as the current site is very tight for space.
I’m not sure. If it was light years of difference in terms of quality, size etc - then I could warm to it IMHO.
 

Sylar

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South Stand defo needs expanding. I can understand why it hasnt happened previously if there were issues behind it.
If its no longer an issue, it needs to happen.
Also need escalators. Taking my dad up 5 flights of steps is a nightmare, especially when I even struggle doing that in the SAF stand.

Also a bit of leg room would be nice but not necessity. Im not fussed about that. Would be nice if it was a case that more people meant a little reduce in ticket price (but obviously business means that will never happen).
 

Infra-red

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Isn't legroom a function of the step size in the tiering? Can't see how it could be increase without a total rebuild.
Yes, probably unfeasible. I only attend a few games a season, but have the greatest of sympathy for any ST holders over 6ft.
 

whatwha

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Believe it or not you can get explosion proof paint. In fact, a lot of buildings with underground car parks have them in London.

Everything you mentioned can be achieved. It's just the cost that's the problem.
Explosion proof paint...?! What wizardry is this :eek:

Lol @ the poll.
 

SirAF

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How would most fans feel about a new Stadium, would it be in the same site? A complete move away? Naming rights? I was very sad to see White Hart Lane go, the older stadiums definitely have a charm/atmosphere that the newer stadiums don't. I'm guessing a complete new build would be incredably difficult as the current site is very tight for space.
Difficult question.

I would love a almost futuristic state of the art new stadium, but on the other hand it's Old Trafford - there's just so much history. If they can up the capacity to almost 90k I suppose that will have to do!
 

Broad Street Bullies

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I like this vote. The option about the website made me laugh. Given that Roy Keane was captain at the time of the last website update, I fully expect the expansion to happen first!
 

Uniqueusername52119

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Expanding the stadium seems technically difficult and therefore expensive, and the legroom, access problems for disabled supporters etc would still exist. Moving somewhere else could be awful ( note the West Ham experience ). Old Trafford stadium isn't the be all and end all, the stadium has evolved over the years and is unrecognisable from the 1920's stadium. To me, what is important is the pitch. That is where the tradition is, where the history was written. It's what links Billy Meredith, Jack Silcock, Harry Rowley, Jack Rowley, Duncan Edwards, Sir Bobby Charlton, Alex Stepney, Martin Buchan, Bryan Robson, Ryan Giggs and Michael Carrick. 11 players to cover 100+ years on that pitch.

Could anyone stomach moving temporarily whilst a new, World Class stadium is created around that pitch. A stadium to last for a century, anyone?
 

Sandikan

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Has this story arisen merely because that ITK fella wrote a piece the other day saying how we needed to upgrade things? Or just pure coincidence?
 

alsabi

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If true it means we could finally break the record for home attendance for an English club. Ironically our current record (83,260) was set at Maine Road back when we were sharing it after the war. Currently behind City (84,569) in 1934 and Spurs (85,512) in the CL group stages last year.
 

Gopher Brown

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The issue is that if we can only increase by a few thousand, the payback cost won’t be worth it. The cost of construction has gone up massively since we did the North stand and the other two, so we’d need a considerable increase in seats before it’s worth it. The owners aren’t interested, and probably rightly so, in making OT look pretty; it’s a functional building and at the moment it fulfills it’s function well.
 

decorativeed

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The issue is that if we can only increase by a few thousand, the payback cost won’t be worth it. The cost of construction has gone up massively since we did the North stand and the other two, so we’d need a considerable increase in seats before it’s worth it. The owners aren’t interested, and probably rightly so, in making OT look pretty; it’s a functional building and at the moment it fulfills it’s function well.
True, but this cost the same as two and a bit Pogbas.
 

AXVnee7

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I'd rather they waited a few years and did an expansion as part of a full redevelopment of OT like Barca and Madrid are doing with their respective stadiums.
 

ghagua

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Need to rebuild the whole thing. Looks very outdated compared to some other modern stadiums.
 

notcool

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I think they should make it smaller. I like stadiums when they are smaller and cozier. They should demolish one stand. It would be only cost £10-20m. It would be a good jaunt.
 

JmRssll555

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I’ve been on a season ticket waiting list for 4 years along with 4 friends.
Really? I seem to remember the club could hardly give them away during the Moyes and van Gaal seasons. There were almost daily emails urging us not to miss out.

Are you looking for 4 together, or only in the Stretford End, for example, which has made it difficult to get STs during that time?

Also need escalators. Taking my dad up 5 flights of steps is a nightmare, especially when I even struggle doing that in the SAF stand.
Most of the stewards will happily escort you to a lift, particularly if you're with elderly or less mobile friends/family. Once you're through the turnstile, just ask one of them and they should be able to take you to the right place.
 

Sylar

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Most of the stewards will happily escort you to a lift, particularly if you're with elderly or less mobile friends/family. Once you're through the turnstile, just ask one of them and they should be able to take you to the right place.
I know. Theyve been friendly whenever ive sat up there tbh. Its just weird having a stadium for a team like United and having no escalators. And a rusty ol lift :lol:
 

Gopher Brown

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I think they should make it smaller. I like stadiums when they are smaller and cozier. They should demolish one stand. It would be only cost £10-20m. It would be a good jaunt.
What about 1 seat, available for £4m per match?
 

wr8_utd

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Don't care if it looks outdated but I'd definitely not want us to get a new stadium at all. Many English clubs also do it because of how low their capacities are, ours is already huge and will only go higher. Besides, I can't imagine us playing anywhere other than Old Trafford. Don't want a soulless London Stadium/Emirates coming up.
 

notcool

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What about 1 seat, available for £4m per match?
Where would that one seat go? There's no pre-eminent position in the ground. I'd say have two seats and put them at each end of the halfway line and charge £2m each. Or four seats at each corner for a million apiece. On consideration, I think the latter arrangement makes most sense.
 

UnrelatedPsuedo

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Thoughts?

I think it's obvious the new step.
Completely pointless if the build doesn't include a root and branch review of how to improve the atmosphere. Relocating fans, safe standing, fan consultation, buying the Wembley Band (kidding)

This is the target;


(Yes it's annoying they sing YAWN).

We always see vague comments of "We want a better atmosphere" but the club have enough clout to pay someone a decent wedge to actually get it done. Wishy washy suggestions can die a slow death and actual endeavour can take it's place.
 

ThomasEmil

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If it makes the acoustics better, hell you could name the new disabled area for "Johnny Evans' lane" and I wouldn't mind it
 

Gopher Brown

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Where would that one seat go? There's no pre-eminent position in the ground. I'd say have two seats and put them at each end of the halfway line and charge £2m each. Or four seats at each corner for a million apiece. On consideration, I think the latter arrangement makes most sense.
Top tier of the SAF stand.
 

Acole9

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Why does the clubs official website need updating? There's nothing wrong with it.
 

Arytonblue

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The more I look at pictures of stadia like this one the more I start to believe we could do with a new one or a massive redevelopment.

City had their new stadium built in 2002, Arsenal in 2006, Tottenham are building a new one and Chelsea have plans for one too. In the meantime on the big European stage, Bayern opened the new Allianz Arena in 2005, Juventus entered their new home in 2011,
None of these clubs were in the situation United are in. City, Arsenal, Spurs and Chelsea all had or have smaller stadiums limited by their location(ie. surrounded by housing or roads) meaning they had no room to expand. For all these clubs (except City who were just given an already built council house) it was necessary to build brand new stadiums with bigger capacity, better location and room for possible expansion. Whereas Bayern and Juve both played in largely unsuitable stadiums that were built for hosting World Cups. They didn't have historic old stadiums to move from when they both built their new arenas, again very much understandable. Which brings the very obvious question of why this is needed for us? Old Trafford is already bigger than any other club ground in the country and is regarded as one of football's most famous stadiums. It's been the club's home for a hundred years, better yet it doesn't suffer anywhere near the limits other stadiums mentioned do so why is 'it time'?
Real Madrid and Barcelona have announced plans to redevelop Bernabeu and Camp Nou respectively by 2020. For a club of our standing and finances we were being left behind.
Being left behind? How exactly? I doubt anyone is opposed to expanding Old Trafford and here's a shocker, it has been several times over the last two decades, just over ten years ago the quadrants were completed, we're not talking eons here. Such large expansion takes a lot of time and planning, not to mention money. I would guess the South stand would have been expanded ala the North sooner had it not been for the railway line but to say we are 'falling behind' is a touch dramatic. Madrid and Barca have always had larger grounds than us if memory serves me correct.

We already have many issues with Old Trafford as discussed in the previous thread. The roof, leg-room, capacity, bad toilet facilities, lopsidedness due to south stand... as well as the lack of modern features like escalators, safe standing areas, screens, fully-covered roof etc.

It's time
The roof and legroom are just inherent qualities of the stadium and aren't so simple to change in a few weeks with some ladders and concrete. The slant of the roof is a remnant of when the North stand was expanded. Because it stood alone it had to be built in a cantilever design, as such the rest of the upper tier had to be at the same angle for symmetry. It's the same as complaining about the lopsidedness, the whole stadium was once entirely like the South Stand so it's not a shock that it's the only one that doesn't look like the rest now. Are people just ignoring how the stadium came to look like it does now? Also I've been up at the very top of the all three stands in matches and the only difference I saw was that the pitch was obviously further away. Whether the roof is tilted or not that's not changing, try going on the top tier at the Bernabeu and it's much the same. Being further away from the action is worse regardless of what ground you're at. Honestly a whole lot of these 'issues' just seem to be either complaints over aesthetic or tacked on things like TV screens, leg room or quirky features of a stadium that has expanded naturally over a century. Things like better toilets and elevators can be implemented and they don't require a whole new stadium that would cost umpteenth times more than a redevelopment or refurbishment. And I seriously wouldn't want to see us knock down Old fecking Trafford all for some Emirates knock off either.