Manchester United have not dismissed the possibility of retaining Old Trafford after a new 100,000-seater stadium is built. The club has confirmed the new stadium will be constructed 350 metres from the existing ground, allowing the first team to continue playing at Old Trafford during construction.
Uncertain future for iconic stadium
No final decision has been reached regarding the fate of the 74,000-capacity Old Trafford. Talks are planned between the club and Trafford Council as part of broader regeneration plans, with supporters also involved in consultation.
"We just don't know, and that is the genuine answer," said Collette Roche, CEO of the stadium development. "The focus at the moment for me personally is around getting the new stadium built, making sure that the facilities around are in place, the transport networks are in. And then I think everything else is phased."
Options for Old Trafford site
Roche outlined several possibilities: "Should we keep it? Should we knock it down? Should we redevelop it into something different? Should it become houses? I don't know. And we'll have to go through that process, but that's going to be a consultation and also something we need to work really closely with the council on."
The new stadium will be built on land recently acquired from Indurent. While not directly adjacent to Old Trafford, the club believes it is the perfect spot.
Why 350 metres away?
Roche explained the reasoning: "Was it a big decision to be 350 metres further away from Old Trafford? No, because quite simply we're in Old Trafford, which is really important. But going back to what's more important to us is that we can't disrupt what we're doing today."
She added: "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. Our players will be playing in a building site, the fans won't be able to get in and out, the transport is going to be a nightmare."
Preserving history and heritage
Roche confirmed talks with supporters will take place to ensure the club's heritage remains intact. "I've already restarted the conversations with the Fans' Advisory Board: what is important, what do we mean by history and heritage, what do you want to take, what are we protecting, are there things from this stadium that should come over, are there rituals we want, do we rebuild things in the same way?"
"We've no desire to start fresh at Manchester United and forget because one of the best things about Manchester United is our history and heritage, we've got to hold on to it. It's about building on it, building the next chapter," she said.
Design and timeline
The renders of the new ground have focused on a 'circus tent' concept that has divided opinion, but Roche insisted the plans were not "set in stone". Finalised designs are set to be revealed later this year, with a clearer timeline for completion to emerge.
United are hopeful of staging matches at the Women's World Cup in 2035, but aim to have the stadium operational well before that event. "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," said Roche.
"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."
