"The Theatre of Dreams" | |
The Sir Alex Ferguson Stand (North Stand) seen from the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand (South Stand)
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Location |
Sir Matt Busby Way Old Trafford Greater Manchester England |
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Coordinates | 53°27′47″N 2°17′29″W / 53.46306°N 2.29139°WCoordinates: 53°27′47″N 2°17′29″W / 53.46306°N 2.29139°W |
Public transit | Manchester United Football Ground railway station & Old Trafford tram stop |
Owner | Manchester United |
Operator | Manchester United |
Capacity | 75,643 |
Record attendance | 76,962 (Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Grimsby Town, 25 March 1939) |
Field size | 105 by 68 metres (114.8 yd × 74.4 yd) |
Surface | Desso GrassMaster |
Construction | |
Broke ground | 1909 |
Opened | 19 February 1910 |
Construction cost | £90,000 (1909) |
Architect | Archibald Leitch (1909) |
Tenants | |
Manchester United (1910–present) |
Old Trafford is a football stadium in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, England, and the home of Manchester United. With a capacity of 75,643, it is the largest club stadium of any football team in the United Kingdom, the third-largest stadium and the second-largest football stadium in the United Kingdom, and the eleventh-largest in Europe. It is about 0.5 miles (800 m) 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. Future expansion is likely to involve the addition of a second tier to the South Stand, which would raise the capacity to around 95,000. 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 FA Cup semi-finals, England fixtures, matches at the 1966 World Cup and Euro 96 and the 2003 Champions League Final, as well as rugby league's annual Super League Grand Final and the final of two Rugby League World Cups. It also hosted football matches at the 2012 Summer Olympics, including women's international football for the first time in its history.