Nicknamed the “Theatre of Dreams”, Old Trafford Stadium has been the home of Manchester United Football Club since 1910. After a recent expansion, the capacity is now over 75,000, making it the second largest stadium in the UK. Throughout the year the stadium also plays host to a variety of one-off concerts and sporting events, including the Rugby League Grand Final. Old Trafford is located in the borough of Trafford, immediately to the west of Manchester City Centre.
Within the stadium is the large Manchester United Museum, which takes fans on a roller-coaster ride through 130 years of history. The tour of the museum is commonly combined with a stadium tour, which takes visitors into the press room, dressing rooms, and hospitality boxes. The tour culminates with a walk through the players’ tunnel into the Theatre of Dreams.
Tickets for Manchester United fixtures are usually sold out in advance with preference going towards club members for important matches. However, with a little pre-planning, Manchester United tickets are easier to come by than most people envisage. Stadium tours should be pre-booked but only sell out on the days around a match day. The stadium has a railway station with regular trains to and from Manchester Piccadilly and is the quickest and easiest way to travel on game days. A MetroLink tram also provides expedited connections to the city centre. There are various car parks around the stadium, but visitors must arrive at least 90 minutes before kick off to get a space.
Manchester United had a ten-year hiatus from Old Trafford around World War II. The stadium was used as a military depot and was partly destroyed during German bombing raids. Throughout that time, the club played their matches at Maine Road, the home of their fierce rivals, Manchester City.