SUMMARY
- The famous stadium, named 'The Theatre of Dreams,' is as old as 1910 and located in the Old Trafford area of Greater Manchester, UK.
- The stadium had many purposes, serving as a military depot during the Second World War. It had to even bear scare of war in 1941 but renovated and reopened in 1949.
Old Trafford is one of the most distinguished stadiums in the world. Its rich history and heritage have made Old Trafford one of the most iconic stadiums not only in England but also in the world. The century-old stadium is not just a sports complex, but a cultural symbol in the Greater Manchester area. It has homed, Manchester United for quite some time now and is a witness of the club’s long list of historic achievements.
Old Trafford 🏟️
🖥️desktop wallpaper
– @MarcusRashford pic.twitter.com/VmMDC2ycGT
— 📷 manutd_hqs (@manutd_hqs) December 15, 2019
‘Theatre’ of Dreams’ as fans have famously known has been part of a huge conspiracy in recent years. The recent speculations have even endangered the very existence of the stadium.
How did ‘Old Trafford’ get its name?
The famous stadium is as old as 1910. The stadium gets its name from the area that it is in. ‘The Theatre of Dreams’ is located in the Old Trafford area of Greater Manchester, UK. The possible explanation might also be the fact that the area was at the crossing point over river Irwell during historic times. The area also housed the two Trafford halls-namely Old and New Trafford. Hence, a geographical location became the reason behind one of sports most revered structures.
The stadium has served many purposes. According to Man United’s official website, the military used the stadium as a depot during the Second World War. It had to even bear the scars of the deadly war in 1941 and had to be renovated and reopened in 1949.
📸 The history of Old Trafford in pictures😍 pic.twitter.com/q24J0h2SRA
— Mirror Football (@MirrorFootball) November 18, 2021
The stadium’s seating capacity has been altered many times due to continued renovations. ‘The Red Devils’ renovated the club in almost every decade since the 1950s adding new features to the gigantic stadium. Its current capacity sits at around 75,454.
Old Trafford has hosted many significant sporting events. ‘The Theatre of Dreams’ was the home of the Euro 1996 semi-finals between France and the Czech Republic. The all-Italian UEFA Champions League 2003 final between Juventus and AC Milan found the perfect host in Manchester United’s home.
Interestingly, the Greater Manchester also encompasses a 2nd Old Trafford. The Old Trafford Cricket Ground is one of the oldest cricket stadiums in the world. The Cricket stadium is 50 years older than its soccer counterpart. Also, Old Trafford got its signature tagline ‘The Theatre of Dreams’ from United legend Sir Bobby Charlton.
The Red Devils’ future hangs in the balance
However, the Manchester United home has lost its glory. While the on-pitch results aren’t encouraging, the aging venue’s rusty metals and leaky roofs have become a headache for the Manchester United board. The team has also had to battle with rivals Arsenal, Man City, Tottenham, Liverpool, etc. who have all built new and modern stadiums or renovated their older ones. Therefore, the worrying situation has forced the club to look for alternatives.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the new investor in the club looks sold on the idea of modernising the record Premier League champions. The British billionaire wants to rival London’s Wembley Stadium, which holds all the national teams and other significant games. Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants to build a brand new stadium beside Old Trafford, that he calls ‘Wembley of the North.’ Some architects are calling for a redevelopment of Old Trafford.
Reports claim incoming Man Utd owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is looking at the possibility of building a new stadium 🔴🏟️
Sky Sports News understands all options are still on the table with regards to Old Trafford and no decisions have been made at this stage ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/N5WU972TVG
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) February 7, 2024
Redeveloping Old Trafford would save around $500 million worth of United money, as building a stadium would nearly cost $1.5 billion (via Goal). Moreover, the fans are too opposed to moving out of their long-standing home. Even Sir Jim Ratcliffe is reportedly, looking at areas near Old Trafford for the new stadium. He reportedly wants ‘The Red Devils’ to be close to their spiritual home, Old Trafford.