Majority of United fans favour new stadium - report

Image source, PA Media

Image caption, A minority of fans want to renovate Old Trafford
  • Author, Paul Burnell
  • Role, BBC News

Most Manchester United fans prefer a new stadium rather the redeveloping Old Trafford, a survey has found.

More than 52% of 50,000-plus season ticket holders, members and executive club members opted for a new build, compared with 31% who supported refurbishing the existing stadium.

The rest were undecided on what the best option was.

No timeframe has been put on taking a final decision, but the PA news agency understands it will be spring or summer 2025 before the Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force's findings are fully considered.

The task force is understood to have focused discussions on building a new 100,000-capacity stadium rather than redeveloping the existing ground.

It was thought the club's owners and the task force, which includes former United defender Gary Neville, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and World Athletics president Lord Coe, might have reached a decision by the end of this year.

However United said that only an "options report" would be delivered by the end of the year.

'Town hall sessions'

Rick McGagh, the club's director of fan engagement, said the club was delighted the survey had "received the most responses in the club's history".

He added: "We know how important our home is to fans and we need to listen to them and gain all their views and insights in order to develop the world-class stadium they deserve.

"We are able to view the results through different lenses to understand if our season ticket holders feel differently about anything than, say, our official members.

"And if younger fans have different views to older fans. This insight is incredibly helpful."

The club are holding "town hall" sessions at Old Trafford this week to offer fans further information on the various options and plans being discussed.

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