Old Trafford
"The Theatre of Dreams" | |
Interactive map of Old Trafford | |
| Address | Sir Matt Busby Way |
|---|---|
| Location | Old Trafford Greater Manchester, England M16 0RA |
| Owner | Manchester United |
| Operator | Manchester United |
| Capacity | 74,244 |
| Surface | Desso GrassMaster |
| Record attendance | 76,962 (Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Grimsby Town, 25 March 1939) |
| Field size | 105 m × 68 m (115 yd × 74 yd) |
| Public transit | Wharfside Old Trafford |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1909 |
| Opened | 19 February 1910 |
| Renovated | 1941, 1946–1949, 1951, 1957, 1973, 1995–1996, 2000, 2006 |
| Construction cost | £90,000 (1909) |
| Architect | Archibald Leitch (1909) |
| Tenants | |
| Manchester United (1910–present) | |
Old Trafford (/ˈtræfərd/) is a football stadium in the Old Trafford area of Greater Manchester, England. It is the home ground of Manchester United. With a capacity of 74,244 which was increased form 74,197 in the start of season 25/26, it is the largest club football stadium in the United Kingdom, and the eleventh-largest in Europe. It is about half a mile (800 metres) from Old Trafford Cricket Ground and the adjacent tram stop.
Nicknamed "The Theatre of Dreams" by Bobby Charlton, Old Trafford has been United's home ground since 1910, although from 1941 to 1949 the club shared Maine Road with local rivals Manchester City as a result of Second World War bomb damage. Old Trafford underwent several expansions in the 1990s and 2000s, including the addition of extra tiers to the North, West and East Stands, almost returning the stadium to its original capacity of 80,000 in 2006, up from roughly 44,000 in 1993, following its conversion to an all-seater stadium. Should further expansion occur, it is likely to involve the addition of a second tier to the South Stand, which would raise the capacity to around 88,000, although alternative suggestions have been made for a new stadium in recent years. The stadium's record attendance was recorded in 1939, when 76,962 spectators watched the FA Cup semi-final between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Grimsby Town.
Old Trafford has hosted an FA Cup Final, two final replays and was regularly used as a neutral venue for the competition's semi-finals. It has also hosted England fixtures, and matches at the 1966 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 1996, the 2012 Summer Olympics and UEFA Women's Euro 2022. The stadium also hosted the 2003 Champions League Final. Outside football, the stadium is used occasionally for rugby league. It has been the venue for the Rugby Football League's annual Super League Grand Final, and previously Premiership Final, since 1987. In addition, it has been a host venue for four editions of the Rugby League World Cup - 1995, 2000, 2013, and 2021 (men's and women's).