Manchester United have reassured supporters that construction of their proposed new stadium will not disrupt first-team matches at Old Trafford.
Collette Roche, United’s chief executive of new stadium development, explained why the club rejected rebuilding its current home in stages.
United intend to construct a new 100,000-seat ground around 350 metres north-west of Old Trafford.
Speaking on the club’s Inside Carrington podcast, Roche said protecting the football operation influenced the location.
“We can’t build a new stadium at the expense of disrupting the football today,” she said.
“We don’t want distractions. We don’t want to be playing matches in a building site.”
United avoid costly Old Trafford disruption
Redeveloping Old Trafford in phases would have created several practical problems.
United would have needed to reduce the stadium’s capacity during construction. Work could also have affected the players’ changing rooms and normal matchday operations.
The chosen site should allow the team to continue playing at Old Trafford while the new stadium is built.
United recently secured most of the land required for the project, as ReadManUtd reported following a major agreement near the current ground.
Roche also acknowledged supporters’ concerns about preserving the club’s history.
Fans have highlighted the importance of features including the Munich Clock and the Old Trafford tunnel. Further consultation will help decide how those elements are represented within the new development.
The future of the existing Old Trafford has not yet been finalised. However, United’s latest update makes clear that first-team football should continue there throughout construction.
The club must now prove it can deliver the ambitious project without creating financial or sporting distractions for Michael Carrick’s side.
