New Stadium or Revamp Old Trafford | Aim is to build 100k seater stadium

[digitalnirvana]

I only get down once or twice a season so he'll be lucky even finding me.

We'll lure you with bread

 

[Tiber]

Have to do it properly and build a modern 21st century stadium. History is great but it shouldn't hold you back

 

[Partridge]

Have to do it properly and built a modern 21st century stadium. History is great but it shouldn't hold you back

We could have an official "Jaffa" room, sponsored by McVities.

 

[BorisManUtd]

Well if they decide to go through with the new stadium then I'll definitely have to save some money and finally get to England and to Old Trafford and watch some home game before it's gone forever.

 

[Redplane]

Well if they decide to go through with the new stadium then I'll definitely have to save some money and finally get to England and to Old Trafford and watch some home game before it's gone forever.

INEOS: *rubs hands together* how about we ask super inflated ticket prices of all those people thinking the same. Let's start construction but do it sloooooowww

 

[stevoc]

They did, once a year, away to us.

That's what United could do while OT is being demolished then. Just play 2 away games against every team for 6 years.

 

[BaguetteBoy]

Will there be safe standing? Means it could potentially beat Barca 105k right?

 

[Frank Grimes]

Hassan II Stadium will be "bigger".

We're talking football stadiums. Who gives a feck about camel racing.

 

[klayton88]

Great if you enjoy cramming onto a carriage designed to have 60 people seated on it but which will have 300 forcing their way on it on a match day. Then a 6-12 minute wait before another one comes along and another 300 get on.

It's honestly the worst thing about match day for me. My anxiety levels are well up when crammed in to a big metal tube with no space to move, the smells, the noise, the heat, it's awful.

 

[Hal9000]

If the decision is to be decided by the end of the year does that include any proposed designs? Planning permission? No point in waiting till the end if the year if it’s then going to take years in the planning phase.

Hopefully by the end of the year we have finished plans and then by 2025 they can start the work.

They probably already have some, they appointed master planners a few years back to start looking at the redevelopment or rebuild of Old Trafford.One of those companies was the architects behind Spurs stadium. Coincidentally a year later the glazers become open to selling.

I'm pretty sure I read somewhere the plans were part of the sales pitch.

 

[MancunianAngels]

Again, for all the talk that they're listening to different people, I'm yet to see/hear if matchgoing fans are involved in the process. A new ground is ultimately going to be about vanity and an increased corporate experience.

Matchgoing fans will care about the club maintaining what atmosphere is left, and an improvement to the the full roof and the concourses. Ultimately aswell, better facilities for the players so they're better prepared to actually win football matches.

I'm not sure you can look at what’s happened to the likes of Spurs and West Ham etc and think it’s a 100% good move. Spurs are often used as a good example of the benefits of moving grounds but I constantly see their fans meaning about lack of atmosphere now and they've just seen a massive price hike as I'm guessing they are still paying for the thing. So yeah, they might have a "state-of-the-art" new stadium but that's no good to a local Spurs fan who can longer take his kids. Small communities that would have built up within the old White Hart Lane have been outpriced so Spurs can erm... carry on not winning trophies and selling their best players.

 

[Mylock]

Sir Jim is a very shrewed man who hasn't got to be a billionaire by making reckless decisions. As the news of the layoffs is anything to go by hes also ruthless. If the funds can be obtained by private/public funding he will build a new stadium. OT is our spiritual home but is outdated, uncomfortable, with vast areas containing poor viewing. Talk big, think big, deliver big projects that's sir Jim's way. Hopefully he'll gets it over the line.
Supporters need to be realistic we don't own the club. As for the fans opinion it's doesn't really matter, this decision will be based on a business decision, if you don't like it support someone else as there will more than enough to fill the new stadium when built. .

 

[hp88]

Again, for all the talk that they're listening to different people, I'm yet to see/hear if matchgoing fans are involved in the process. A new ground is ultimately going to be about vanity and an increased corporate experience.

Matchgoing fans will care about the club maintaining what atmosphere is left, and an improvement to the the full roof and the concourses. Ultimately aswell, better facilities for the players so they're better prepared to actually win football matches.

I'm not sure you can look at what’s happened to the likes of Spurs and West Ham etc and think it’s a 100% good move. Spurs are often used as a good example of the benefits of moving grounds but I constantly see their fans meaning about lack of atmosphere now and they've just seen a massive price hike as I'm guessing they are still paying for the thing. So yeah, they might have a "state-of-the-art" new stadium but that's no good to a local Spurs fan who can longer take his kids. Small communities that would have built up within the old White Hart Lane have been outpriced so Spurs can erm... carry on not winning trophies and selling their best players.

Sure there was survey which was sent out season ticket holders last season, not sure of much of that will take on board though.

I am guessing they will have MUST and the Fans Forum in the loop once they decide on what they're doing but they only represent a small part of this club, really need to change the way we engage with core supporters really.

With regards to who pays for it all, I think the club will fork out pay for the majority of it and we will get a stadium sponsor on board as well, but we have had season ticket prices go up two season in row and we haven't really seen anything in return for it, new stadium would be the perfect opportunity to stick on fat rise on the tickets.

 

[Rams]

Sir is a very shrewed man who hasn't got to be a billionaire by making reckless decisions. As the news of the layoffs is anything to go by hes also ruthless. If the funds can be obtained by private/public funding he will build a new stadium. OT is our spiritual home but is outdated, uncomfortable, with vast areas containing poor viewing. Talk big, think big, deliver big projects that's sir Jim's way. Hopefully he'll gets it over the line.
Supporters need to be realistic we don't own the club. As for the fans opinion it's doesn't really matter, this decision will be based on a business decision, if you don't like it support someone else as there will more than enough to fill the new when built. .

A tad unfair as Jimbo had had a survey completed by 30k about the new stadium and had repeatedly said right from the beginning of his bid last year that he wanted OT to help the local community and help further renovate the surrounding area’s. It’s seems to me the fans don’t mind as long as the infrastructures & facilitaties are improved and the stadium remains somewhere at the current site.

 

[decorativeed]

It's honestly the worst thing about match day for me. My anxiety levels are well up when crammed in to a big metal tube with no space to move, the smells, the noise, the heat, it's awful.

I agree - I can't do it. But then it's only a 30-40 minute walk from the city centre, so I've done that instead.

 

[MancunianAngels]

Sure there was survey which was sent out season ticket holders last season, not sure of much of that will take on board though.

I am guessing they will have MUST and the Fans Forum in the loop once they decide on what they're doing but they only represent a small part of this club, really need to change the way we engage with core supporters really.

With regards to who pays for it all, I think the club will fork out pay for the majority of it and we will get a stadium sponsor on board as well, but we have had season ticket prices go up two season in row and we haven't really seen anything in return for it, new stadium would be the perfect opportunity to stick on fat rise on the tickets.

Yeah, I saw the survey. Things appeared to moved on from that though and it would be useful to gauge the opinions of season ticket holders and members since the recent news.

I'd hope MUST and the fans forum do push them on ticket prices. Getting a coordinated message across that huge price hikes aren't acceptable would be great.

 

[Varane around town]

It's honestly the worst thing about match day for me. My anxiety levels are well up when crammed in to a big metal tube with no space to move, the smells, the noise, the heat, it's awful.

I've started walking down the canal and into the city centre after games. It's only 40 minutes and isn't actually that much slower when you add in how long it takes to actually get on a tram

 

[decorativeed]

I've started walking down the canal and into the city centre after games. It's only 40 minutes and isn't actually that much slower when you add in how long it takes to actually get on a tram

They need to spend some money on making those walking routes more accessible. Last couple of times I've tried that walk, a new building site has sprung up and walled off the path for pedestrians.

 

[golden_blunder]

The biggest news potentially to come from the club in many years and a decision which will benefit the club going forward for the next 100 years.

As iconic as OT is, it’s time to knock it down and rebuilt , for too long we have stood still whilst the rest have caught up

Why does everyone say knock it down? The article states that it will be kept side by side whilst the other is being built and it will take 6 years. I’m guessing that in 6 years they can find a good use for it

 

[JinnerJamie]

Why does everyone say knock it down? The article states that it will be kept side by side whilst the other is being built and it will take 6 years. I’m guessing that in 6 years they can find a good use for it

I imagine they'll look at reducing it's capacity to a single tiered bowel for the women's and kids teams.

 

[golden_blunder]

I imagine they'll look at reducing its capacity to a single tiered bowel for the women's and kids teams.

That would be great. They could still played on hallowed ground

 

[astracrazy]

Again, for all the talk that they're listening to different people, I'm yet to see/hear if matchgoing fans are involved in the process. A new ground is ultimately going to be about vanity and an increased corporate experience.

Matchgoing fans will care about the club maintaining what atmosphere is left, and an improvement to the the full roof and the concourses. Ultimately aswell, better facilities for the players so they're better prepared to actually win football matches.

I'm not sure you can look at what’s happened to the likes of Spurs and West Ham etc and think it’s a 100% good move. Spurs are often used as a good example of the benefits of moving grounds but I constantly see their fans meaning about lack of atmosphere now and they've just seen a massive price hike as I'm guessing they are still paying for the thing. So yeah, they might have a "state-of-the-art" new stadium but that's no good to a local Spurs fan who can longer take his kids. Small communities that would have built up within the old White Hart Lane have been outpriced so Spurs can erm... carry on not winning trophies and selling their best players.

Here you go

Ratcliffe wants a full recommendation, with detail, by the end of the year, and a sub task force is being established to focus on consultation with fans, which will feature Duncan Drasdo, CEO of Manchester United Supporters Trust (MUST). There will be community engagement too on a project that United believe can regenerate the wider area. - The Athletic

 

[Infra-red]

I imagine they'll look at reducing it's capacity to a single tiered bowel for the women's and kids teams.

This is the ideal scenario that people have been pushing for a couple of years - a 25k capacity, single-tier Old Trafford (perhaps with an enhanced museum component) alongside a brand new, state of the art, 100k seater stadium. No idea if it is workable.

 

[Hughie77]

I'd like a new stadium.. until they Start pulling OT down I'm not holding my breath..

 

[alexanderplatz]

New stadium makes it easier for the owners to justify the price hike for tickets and food/drink. Look at the prices for big US teams and you’ll see where they want to get to.
I want OT to be redeveloped but accept that is not going to happen. If they could make the current stadium a smaller secondary stadium that would be enough for me I think.

 

[Redplane]

RE what to do with the current stadium: one thing that I've seen done well elsewhere is to not only leave the pitch with some reduced capacity stands, but to also replace some of the existing stands with new housing projects to frame what was the original outline of the stadium. Its pretty clear the city of Manchester in particular is interesting in rejuvenating the area around OT as well.

 

[Devil_forever]

New stadium makes it easier for the owners to justify the price hike for tickets and food/drink. Look at the prices for big US teams and you’ll see where they want to get to.
I want OT to be redeveloped but accept that is not going to happen. If they could make the current stadium a smaller secondary stadium that would be enough for me I think.

Tbf we froze ticket prices for over a decade and given inflation and the sheer cost of the stadium, they would have to increase ticket prices just to even make it economically viable.

Even with the stadium, we won't be charging anywhere near London ticket prices.

 

[gaffs]

Sir is a very shrewed man who hasn't got to be a billionaire by making reckless decisions. As the news of the layoffs is anything to go by hes also ruthless. If the funds can be obtained by private/public funding he will build a new stadium. OT is our spiritual home but is outdated, uncomfortable, with vast areas containing poor viewing. Talk big, think big, deliver big projects that's sir Jim's way. Hopefully he'll gets it over the line.
Supporters need to be realistic we don't own the club. As for the fans opinion it's doesn't really matter, this decision will be based on a business decision, if you don't like it support someone else as there will more than enough to fill the new when built. .

Well said.

 

[Utd heap]

Tbf we froze ticket prices for over a decade and given inflation and the sheer cost of the stadium, they would have to increase ticket prices just to even make it economically viable.

Even with the stadium, we won't be charging anywhere near London ticket prices.

Yes the only way Manchester United could recoup stadium costs is increasing my ticket from £40 > £75. There is simply no other option the poor lads.

 

[Devil_forever]

Yes the only way Manchester United could recoup stadium costs is increasing my ticket from £40 > £75. There is simply no other option the poor lads.

You have a better way to make £2bn plus interest charges to fund the stadium then? Go on, I’m all ears.

 

[Utd heap]

You have a better way to make £2bn plus interest charges to fund the stadium then? Go on, I’m all ears.

Well my choice would be to not do it.

But let's pretend we do, yes there are alternatives than charging for tickets ffs. Does that really need arguing.

 

[dubplate warrior]

Again, for all the talk that they're listening to different people, I'm yet to see/hear if matchgoing fans are involved in the process. A new ground is ultimately going to be about vanity and an increased corporate experience.

Matchgoing fans will care about the club maintaining what atmosphere is left, and an improvement to the the full roof and the concourses. Ultimately aswell, better facilities for the players so they're better prepared to actually win football matches.

I'm not sure you can look at what’s happened to the likes of Spurs and West Ham etc and think it’s a 100% good move. Spurs are often used as a good example of the benefits of moving grounds but I constantly see their fans meaning about lack of atmosphere now and they've just seen a massive price hike as I'm guessing they are still paying for the thing. So yeah, they might have a "state-of-the-art" new stadium but that's no good to a local Spurs fan who can longer take his kids. Small communities that would have built up within the old White Hart Lane have been outpriced so Spurs can erm... carry on not winning trophies and selling their best players.

Just complete and utter nonsense. Move with the times for God's sake you bloody nostalgia merchant.

 

[Utd heap]

Again, for all the talk that they're listening to different people, I'm yet to see/hear if matchgoing fans are involved in the process. A new ground is ultimately going to be about vanity and an increased corporate experience.

Matchgoing fans will care about the club maintaining what atmosphere is left, and an improvement to the the full roof and the concourses. Ultimately aswell, better facilities for the players so they're better prepared to actually win football matches.

I'm not sure you can look at what’s happened to the likes of Spurs and West Ham etc and think it’s a 100% good move. Spurs are often used as a good example of the benefits of moving grounds but I constantly see their fans meaning about lack of atmosphere now and they've just seen a massive price hike as I'm guessing they are still paying for the thing. So yeah, they might have a "state-of-the-art" new stadium but that's no good to a local Spurs fan who can longer take his kids. Small communities that would have built up within the old White Hart Lane have been outpriced so Spurs can erm... carry on not winning trophies and selling their best players.

They will send some shit poll out to matchgoers. It will then be 'acknowledged' and essentially ignored. Rinse and repeat.

This would be a new era. Maybe better on the pitch, but a different world off it.

Most on here wont care about the latter when it comes down to it.

 

[hp88]

You have a better way to make £2bn plus interest charges to fund the stadium then? Go on, I’m all ears.

Is Ticket Revenue even our biggest source of income? Stick another 10% on tickets and you will start hitting our core fanbase, your end result will be soulless bowl (Whitehart Lane, London Stadium, Emirates...)

If the Glazers hadn't have fecked around for years, we wouldn't even be having this discussion, a debt free Man United with the help of a stadium sponsor funds this without even having to think about raising prices, it's their feck up and we shouldn't be having to pay the price for it.

 

[neon_badger]

You have a better way to make £2bn plus interest charges to fund the stadium then? Go on, I’m all ears.

By winning trophies and becoming the biggest team in Europe. This is more likely to happen with a stadium full of passionate local supporters. The corporate side of the stadium will already be vast and lucrative, pricing out real fans would be a huge own goal.

 

[klayton88]

I shall definitely be walking back in to town on dry nights then, cheers for the heads up @decorativeed @Varane around town. The met situation definitely needs improving though even for the current stadium, even just more fan zone/pre game stuff to stagger the arrival times at the ground a bit more vs currently everybody aiming to get there an hour before kick off. Public transport is scary at the best of times these days.

 

[DarkLord1984]

I live on the other side of the world, so even though a new stadium would be amazing, I'm grateful that I made the pilgrimage to Old Trafford to do the stadium tour in 2018.

 

[Hal9000]

Again, for all the talk that they're listening to different people, I'm yet to see/hear if matchgoing fans are involved in the process. A new ground is ultimately going to be about vanity and an increased corporate experience.

Matchgoing fans will care about the club maintaining what atmosphere is left, and an improvement to the the full roof and the concourses. Ultimately aswell, better facilities for the players so they're better prepared to actually win football matches.

I'm not sure you can look at what’s happened to the likes of Spurs and West Ham etc and think it’s a 100% good move. Spurs are often used as a good example of the benefits of moving grounds but I constantly see their fans meaning about lack of atmosphere now and they've just seen a massive price hike as I'm guessing they are still paying for the thing. So yeah, they might have a "state-of-the-art" new stadium but that's no good to a local Spurs fan who can longer take his kids. Small communities that would have built up within the old White Hart Lane have been outpriced so Spurs can erm... carry on not winning trophies and selling their best players.

Think people have some nostalgia fests about the old grounds, when in fact it's largely the match going crowd that's changed. Those fans at West Ham also said Upton Park had poor atmosphere. White Heart Lane also was never great. It'll be the same for Old Trafford, ignoring the fact that we've been battling the lack of atmosphere since Roy Keane said we prefer prawn sandwiches.

 

[Hal9000]

New stadium makes it easier for the owners to justify the price hike for tickets and food/drink. Look at the prices for big US teams and you’ll see where they want to get to.
I want OT to be redeveloped but accept that is not going to happen. If they could make the current stadium a smaller secondary stadium that would be enough for me I think.

Redevelopment will see a price hike as well, sure it'll be cheaper, but with no clear alternative venue to play you're looking at big cuts in ticket revenues for the period of time it takes. How do you think they will make up for that?

 

[JB7]

Well my choice would be to not do it.

But let's pretend we do, yes there are alternatives than charging for tickets ffs. Does that really need arguing.

We supposedly make around £4m a game from ticket sales, if we increase all our ticket prices by 50% and add an extra 20k seats, maybe we'll make £7m a game. Which means we'll have paid for the ground on our own in just 286 home games, or roughly 10 years. By which point people will probably be saying we need to modernise again. This is clearly the best and fairest way to do it, rather than paying for it with sponsorships and a few incredibly expensive corporate areas.