Fly with GOAL to get a different view of England’s second largest football stadium.
Steeped in history, Old Trafford has hosted many famous parties and played host to some of English football’s greatest talents.
With an abundance of success on the pitch, the club’s trophy cabinet alone may be enough to pay a visit.
So if you are planning a trip, OBJECTIVE brings you everything you need to know.
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Where is Old Trafford?
Address: Sir Matt Busby Way, Old Trafford, Manchester, M16 0RA
Google Maps: Other directions to the stadium can be found here
Old Trafford is located in the Manchester West Regionabout three kilometers southwest of the city center.
If coming from the M60, take junctions 7 and 8 and turn onto Chester Road heading north (A56). After about 2 miles turn left onto Sir Matt Busby Way and follow the road to the stadium. On match days you may have to walk part of the way as car access is restricted.
Alternatively, taking public transport may be an easier option; the stadium is accessible via the Metrolink subway. It takes 15 minutes by train from Piccadilly station to Old Trafford station.
On match days a special train service is provided which runs from most Manchester city center stations to Old Trafford station, from there the stadium is a five minute walk away.
When was Old Trafford built?
Old Trafford officially opened on February 19, 1910a year after construction began, with a game between Man Utd and Liverpool ending 4-3 away.
Manchester United played their home games in a 50,000 seater stadium in Bank Street during the first decade of the 20th century, but then-chairman Davies began planning for a new stadium with twice that capacity.
A location site near the industrial area of Trafford Park was chosen and architect Archibald Leitch was commissioned to design the stadium.
The stadium remained relatively unchanged until 1936, when an 80m long roof was added to the United Road terrace (now the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand) as part of a £35,000 renovation. Roofs were also added to the south corners in 1938.
When the Second World War broke out, the army commandeered Old Trafford as a depot. Football was still played at the stadium, until it was badly damaged by German bombing in the early 1940s.
In the meantime, Man Utd played their ‘home’ games at Man City’s Maine Road ground at a cost of £5,000 a year (nearly £100,000 in today’s money), as well only a percentage of their ticket sales.
Eight years after the bombing, the stadium had been cleared of rubble and rebuilt, and Man Utd returned to the ground in August 1949, where fans watched the home side beat Bolton Wanderers 3-0.
In preparation for the 1966 World Cup, in which Old Trafford hosted three group matches, improvements such as the removal of pillars which limited fans’ view were made.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s the stadium gradually expanded, including improved coverage, better executive facilities and more seating, as well as increased ground security to combat the rise of hooliganism .
Due to the Taylor Report rules, the stadium had to be converted to an all-seated stadium in the early 1990s.
The club’s upsurge in success and popularity in the early 1990s meant further development was needed.
The 30-year-old North Stand was demolished in 1995 and construction began quickly on a new stand so Old Trafford could host three group matches, a quarter-final and a semi-final at the Euros 96.
Old Trafford’s most recent major refurbishment took place in 2006, when second tiers were added to the north-west and north-east quadrants of the stadium.
Plans for the future of the stadium began to emerge in early 2022, with mass redevelopments or the possibility of building an entirely new stadium on the same site under consideration, although nothing has been finalized yet.
What is the capacity of Old Trafford?
At the time of writing, Old Trafford has a capacity of 74,140.
When the stadium was built in 1910, it could hold up to 80,000 people and recorded its highest attendance of 76,962 in 1939.
However, between the stadium’s reconstruction after World War II bombings and subsequent developments, including those involving the Taylor Report, the stadium’s capacity fell from 80,000 to less than 60,000.
Expansions in the 1990s and early 2000s increased capacity, but it was not until 2006, as the stadium’s most recent major innovation, that it reached its current levels.
Which teams play at Old Trafford?
Manchester United are the sole occupants of Old Trafford.
England played many games at Old Trafford, including their famous World Cup qualifier against Greece which ended 2-2, with David Beckham scoring a final free-kick to send the country to the World Cup .
England now play the majority of their home matches at Wembley.
Does Old Trafford host music concerts and other events?
The secondary primary purpose of Old Trafford is the accommodation of Rugby Union and Rugby League matches.
Since 1987, all Rugby League Premiership finals, as well as the competition’s successor, the Super League Grand Final, have been held at Old Trafford.
The stadium is not usually used for other sporting events, although in October 1993, 42,000 people attended a nification bout between WBO champion Chris Eubank and WBC champion Nigel Benn. In the night, Eubank emerged victorious.
Additionally, Old Trafford has also hosted many concerts by major artists such as Bon Jovi, Genesis, Bruce Springsteen, Status Quo and Rod Stewart.
Can you book a tour of Old Trafford?
Old Trafford offers guided tours of the stadium, which include an overview of the players’ tunnel, the dugouts and the Manchester United Museum.
Tours are available 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. However, they do not operate on match days.
Tickets cost £25 for adults, £18 for juniors and £5 for educational groups. Reservations can be made on the official Manchester United website.
What is the Old Trafford seating plan?
A seating plan for Old Trafford is available on the Seat selection website.
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