Manchester United have not ruled out retaining Old Trafford and potentially reducing its capacity once a new 100,000-seater stadium is constructed for the first team. The club has confirmed the new stadium will be built on land purchased from Indurent, located 350 metres from the current ground.
New Stadium Location Allows Uninterrupted Play at Old Trafford
The distance between the two sites means the first team can continue playing at Old Trafford during construction, avoiding disruption to matches and training. Collette Roche, chief executive of the stadium development, said: "Being 350 metres away for the next four or five years, or however long it takes to build a stadium, is going to be really important because if it's too close, it will be disruptive."
Roche added that playing in a building site, fan access issues, and transport chaos would have been unavoidable if the new stadium were built closer. The club believes the separation is ideal for maintaining operations.
No Final Decision on Old Trafford's Future
Discussions with Trafford Council and supporter consultations will determine the fate of the 74,000-capacity Old Trafford. Roche stated: "We just don't know, and that is the genuine answer. The focus at the moment for me personally is around getting the new stadium built."
Options include keeping the stadium, demolishing it, redeveloping it for other uses, or converting the site into housing. Roche emphasised the need to work closely with the council to deliver jobs, homes, and businesses as part of wider regeneration plans.
Stadium Design Not Finalised
Initial images of the new stadium feature a "circus tent" design that has divided fan opinion. However, Roche said this is not "set in stone." Final designs will be unveiled later this year, along with a clearer timeframe for completion.
The club hopes to host matches at the Women's World Cup in 2035, but expects the stadium to be operational before then. Roche noted: "The 2035 one is quite interesting because it's a good milestone. I do think it's realistic because of the work we've done so far."
Planning and Timeline
The construction timeline depends on planning approvals and final design choices. Roche explained: "The design is going to inform how we're going to construct the stadium. We've got to go through the planning and then that'll give us the date."
She added that the club is working with the council to expedite the process, but refrained from committing to a specific completion date until planning is secured.
