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Manchester United is a global name which history dates back to 1878. It has a commitment to blooding young attacking talents and hosting some of the greatest players in history. Everybody knows who the Red Devils are – whether it´s here in South Africa, in heart of China, or right across the Europe and South America.
Synonymous with this great club for the past 115 years has been the legendary Old Trafford — a once great stadium that is now in something of a marked decline. With new owners pushing the investment forward, it was only a matter of time before ‘New’ Trafford will be announced.
What has Sir Jim said?
Britain’s richest man is not just a die-hard Manchester United fan. He grew up on a Manchester housing estate long before he made his billions. He was also there in the Nou Camp in ’99 when United clinched their legendary treble, and he now owns nearly a third of the club after buying a large share from the Glazers.
Now that Sir Jim has complete control over all sport and football matters, he has become the focal point of calls for a new stadium. After lengthy consultations and plenty of conversations with world-renowned architect Norman Foster, ‘New’ Trafford was announced earlier this week.
After highlighting how refurbishing the existing stadium would be applying a sticking plaster, the new plans were unveiled. A trio of 200-foot spires, a breathable solar mesh, and a fan zone were all on show. The details were truly breathtaking for any fan.
A move to vertical seating
Promoting a sense of closeness to the action has to be at the heart of any new stadium, or so the thinking goes. Nowhere was this more evident than when Sir Jim criticized the fact that the London Stadium where West Ham plays separates supporters from the pitch by 20 m. This is because of a running track that is a legacy of the stadium’s former life.
In ‘New’ Trafford, fans will be as little as 5 m away from the action on the pitch and will enjoy unrestricted views from the stands. Near-vertical seating is designed to offer a truly immersive experience that will set the tone for an intimidating atmosphere for any visiting team. The beauty of this approach is that we’re only just starting to mention all the extra advantages United are going to enjoy over the years.
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A focus on acoustic power
By shaping the stadium to amplify the roar of the crowd and the chants of the supporters, Norman Foster has created a design that will dominate any opposition. The idea is to turn the new stadium into the fortress that Old Trafford once was, particularly in the days of Sir Alex Ferguson.
The energy and motivation that this will give the players in red week in week out is invaluable yet hard to quantify. But you only have to look back over the previous decades of glory to see how a febrile home crowd could turn a draw into a last-minute win during injury time. The idea with this new stadium is to make sure that this atmosphere is being built long before the kickoff.
A unique fan experience
One of the world’s largest covered courtyards serves as the perfect place for fans to mingle, get excited, and share their predictions for the game. By bringing the fans to the stadium several hours before the kickoff, Manchester United will be driving increased sales of drinks and merchandise. Not only will this help them to buy even better players in the transfer market, it will also help to build the atmosphere and bring the fans together.
When United are playing away, the plan is to open up the fan zone, and potentially the main stadium, so that fans can pay to watch the match on a big screen. This would be a great way of bringing in more revenue while also offering the kind of remote fan experience that several major American sports leagues have already pioneered. It all adds up to extra revenue so that Manchester United can navigate FFP and PSR rules without having to reduce their spending power.
A break from the past
Even the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson — a man more synonymous with Old Trafford than perhaps any other one — has been vocal about his desire for the club to be brave. Leaving the hallowed ground of Old Trafford and moving into the biggest stadium in the country would certainly be brave. Add in the fact that it will show the Premier League and Champions League that United are not going to accept decline any longer and it sends a clear message.
Breaking from the past is something that is always hard to do, and yet once done, opens doors that can make all the difference in the future. A new manager, a clear identity, and a return to focusing on bringing young players and academy prospects have all been set in motion. The Carrington Training Ground has already begun a £50 million revamp designed to make it the very best in the word. Moving to a new purpose-built stadium is the logical next step to take.
What does the future hold?
Manchester United fans would be forgiven for thinking they were set for a 30-year stay in the doldrums akin to the one Liverpool experienced before Klopp, but now they are coming back. Every fan won´t doubt to save up paying a visit to the new stadium as soon as they can.
While it’s often tempting to play the lottery, order a takeout, or spend time on sites like StakeHub, saving up for an experience often goes so much further. Imagine being able to take in the stunning new stadium, see a live game, and watch the action in person. Nothing else compares!
