Manchester United’s management is considering dismantling and reconstructing Old Trafford as part of their stadium’s restoration plans.
United’s stadium has been neglected for years under the Glazers, slipping behind rival Premier League clubs’ state-of-the-art facilities.
According to The Telegraph, United are close to finding partners for the club’s largest renovation project as each prospective bidder is required to submit three distinct design concepts.
One of the most audacious proposals is a complete overhaul of Old Trafford, which would make Wembley the country’s largest football stadium. The capacity is expected to increase to around 90,000 and include a second, smaller stadium for women’s and academy matches.
However, if that relocation is approved, Man United will have a dilemma over their home games. Tottenham played their home games at Wembley while White Hart Lane was dismantled and rebuilt, but it would be logistically impossible for United to go to London for home matches. Additionally, there is no huge facility in the northwest that United could utilize in the meantime.
A ground-share plan would have a significant financial impact on United’s matchday income, which now exceeds £4.25 million for each home match.
Another possibility is to expand Old Trafford’s South Stand, which would require work over a nearby train line and would increase capacity to 80,000.
According to the source, ‘nothing is off the table at this time,’ however United would prefer a phased renovation that would allow them to maintain full capacity at Old Trafford.
The proposed refurbishment also entails a review of the club’s current corporate hospitalist structure, which now lags behind Manchester City, Arsenal, Tottenham, and Liverpool.
