A recent survey conducted by Manchester United has revealed how fans feel about the future of Old Trafford, with over 50,000 supporters participating—the highest engagement rate for any fan research in the club’s history. The survey was distributed to Season Ticket holders, United Members, and Executive Club members in September, highlighting the importance of the stadium project to the fanbase.
The results indicate that a new-built stadium at Old Trafford is favoured by 52% of respondents, while 31% prefer redeveloping the existing stadium. An additional 17% expressed uncertainty regarding their preference. Notably, current season ticket holders showed the strongest support for a new stadium, with interest in this option increasing among older fans. In contrast, younger fans tend to favour redevelopment of the historic ground.
Rick McGagh, Director of Fan Engagement at Manchester United, commented on the survey’s significance: “We are delighted that this survey received the most responses in the club’s history. It shows how important this work is, and to have this level of engagement at this stage is a positive place to start.” He emphasized the club’s commitment to listening to its supporters: “We know how important our home is to fans and we need to listen to them and gain all their views and insights to develop the world-class stadium they deserve.”
The club has been proactive in gathering fan perspectives through various channels, including ongoing engagement with the Fans’ Advisory Board and Fans’ Forum, as well as focus group meetings with supporters from all segments of the fanbase. McGagh noted that this insight allows the project team to discern differences in opinions among various groups: “We can view the results through different lenses to understand if our season ticket holders feel differently about anything than say our official members.”
As part of the consultation process, hundreds of fans are expected at Old Trafford for Town Hall sessions today and tomorrow. These sessions will provide an opportunity for supporters to learn more about the project and ask questions directly to members of the project team, including architects from Foster + Partners.
The insights gathered from this initial round of consultation will contribute to the Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force options report, which is set to be delivered to the club by the end of the year. This ongoing dialogue underscores Manchester United’s commitment to ensuring that fan voices are central to any decisions regarding the future of their iconic stadium.
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