Manchester United's 1-0 defeat to Arsenal on Sunday was the least of worries as pictures of Old Trafford's leaky dressing rooms and waterlogged pitches circulated online. But how did this historical site get to such a bad state, and where does it go from here? Let's take a closer look.
What's Wrong with Old Trafford?
Old Trafford Stadium, home of Manchester United, is well known for being the largest club football stadium in the UK in terms of capacity and historic structure that has been in existence for over a century. It has endured through thick and thin, including frequent bombings during the Second World War. However, it is now suffering from a leaking roof.
It's no secret that Old Trafford hasn't seen any significant updates for the best part of two decades, with problems often noticed but often overlooked due to the high cost of fixing them. Unfortunately, these past cuts have come back to haunt the club today. We've seen the shocking footage being shared after heavy rain in Manchester on Sunday evening – inside rooms leaking, and a literal waterfall erupting from the drainage system overflowing over the stands.
It is clear to everyone that something needs to be done about Old Trafford. But what?
What Can Be Done About It?
When it comes down to it, there are three options for Manchester United and its owners:
Refresh
The most obvious step is to simply fix the problems. The arena needs major repair work, and not just the leaky roof. Old Trafford is outdated compared to the stadiums other UK clubs call home. In theory, this will also be the cheapest option, since you are not building anything or buying something new. However, it can be very difficult at work, not to mention the disruption to the wider Manchester community.
Move on
Yes, Manchester United can always move. It is an option for the club to abandon Old Trafford altogether and find a new home elsewhere. This idea has been tossed around, but it seems unlikely. Old Trafford is a historic stadium and a big part of the club's history; it may hurt the club further to collect and leave it. Not to mention how expensive it will be. It can cost even more than building a new platform from scratch. Speaking of which…
Rebuild
The third option is to rebuild. There has been talk of taking one area and rebuilding the stadium from the ground up. This is certainly the preferred option of Sir Jim Ratcliffe who took over as owner of the club earlier this year. He mentioned ambitions to redevelop Old Trafford into the 'Wembley of the North.' The sky's the limit on how much this can cost, and the time it will take is a problem, but – if Ratcliffe can get the money – it could be the best option in the long term.
Manchester United Faces Big Cut in Revenue
Regardless of the club's intentions, Manchester United will need to find another place to play at this point. If Old Trafford continues to degrade, United will need a temporary home ground in time for next season.
There are many platforms we've seen considered for that title, but there aren't many options out there. At least not for a team with an audience the size of Manchester United (although after this terrible season, who knows what the future holds).
In all speculation, it looks like the club may have to resort to a much smaller stadium than it currently enjoys, reducing it to half or less of Old Trafford's capacity. This is certainly a solution, but it would result in the club significantly reducing their income from match fees – and as they look down on an expensive stadium rebuild, a drop in profits is the last thing they need.
What is the Future of Dream Theater?
Time will tell where Old Trafford ends up. In a few years, we could be looking at a shiny new stadium that lives up to Ratcliffe's expectations. Or it could be worse, if management continues to ignore these obvious problems.
In any case, for the foreseeable future, you should only stop at Old Trafford yourself if you're prepared to take a shower while you're there. As for Manchester United, they are preparing to face Manchester City in the FA Cup final on Saturday, May 25.
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