Manchester United are considering plans to potentially retain Old Trafford even if they opt to construct a new stadium, as per sources informed ESPN. The club is currently inclined towards the idea of building a new 100,000-capacity stadium rather than renovating the existing Old Trafford, a decision that is yet to be finalized.
However, in the event that Manchester United decides to move away from Old Trafford, their home since 1910, there is a proposal on the table to preserve the current stadium. Sources have indicated that this plan could involve reducing Old Trafford's capacity from 76,000 to approximately 30,000, with intentions to utilize it for the women's and under-21 teams. Currently, these teams predominantly play their matches at Leigh Sports Village, which is over 15 miles away from Manchester.
The club is keen on upholding the historical significance of Old Trafford, including the statues encircling the stadium, the Munich clock, and the former players' tunnel positioned at the halfway line. The preferred option of co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the project task force, which includes Mayor of Manchester Andy Burnham and former club captain Gary Neville, is to construct a new stadium on the adjacent land.
Despite this preference, sources have revealed that Manchester United is hesitant to demolish Old Trafford entirely, suggesting the possibility of coexisting stadiums on a campus-style site. A final decision regarding the stadium project is anticipated to be made by the club by the conclusion of the year. The project is estimated to span six years and is projected to exceed £2 billion ($2.5bn) in costs.
