A survey released on Tuesday has shown that a majority of Manchester United fans favour building a new stadium rather than redeveloping the club's iconic Old Trafford home.
Of the 50,000 season ticket holders, club members, and executive club members polled, 52% preferred the idea of a new facility, compared to 31% who backed the redevelopment of the 114-year-old stadium. An additional 17% were undecided.
The survey results came amid ongoing discussions about the future of Old Trafford, with United's ownership considering various redevelopment options. The club's cross-city rivals, Manchester City, moved out of their old Maine Road stadium in 2003, opting for the new City of Manchester Stadium, while Liverpool has chosen to redevelop Anfield rather than build a new venue.
In September, United released artist's renderings of a potential Old Trafford regeneration project, suggesting that a new stadium could form part of a larger, multi-billion-pound redevelopment plan. The club’s owners are working with the Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force, which includes former United defender Gary Neville and World Athletics president Sebastian Coe, to explore all options.
The Task Force is reportedly focused on the possibility of building a new 100,000-capacity stadium. A final decision on the stadium's future is expected to be made in the first half of 2025, according to reports.
Rick McGagh, United's director of fan engagement, emphasized the importance of listening to supporters in shaping the future of the club’s home. "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," McGagh said. "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."
