The designs for Manchester United’s revamped Old Trafford appear alarmingly comparable to numerous other recent stadiums throughout European football.
The initial occasion I went to Old Trafford was in 2004 for the league match against Charlton. At eight years old, the stadium amazed me just like it does for every kid in a cheesy football film.
Having been raised in the countryside, this giant felt like a place from another realm. A place where champions resided and the finest football in the nation was showcased. I can still recall the white metal structure atop the roof, the red MANCHESTER UNITED letters shining brightly into the hazy evening sky.
Two decades later, I returned to Old Trafford and everything felt quite alike. The stadium remains just as intimidating, but a stadium that evokes the same feelings as it did twenty years ago is not wholly positive.
Inside, Old Trafford still featured the red rubber flooring that would seem fitting in a dilapidated leisure center. A falconer was by the field, releasing the bird to capture rats that had settled there. Workers were suspended from the East Stand's peak, repairing one of the numerous gaps that douse fans with an unwelcome spray during a rainy matchday.
When my team, Ipswich, achieved promotion to the Premier League for the first time in 22 years, my first focus in the fixture list was Old Trafford.
It might still carry an air of mysticism, yet no one can contest that it has been abandoned to decay. The Glazers’ indifference towards their stadium resulted in it not only losing its status as the top club ground in the nation but also making news for poor food hygiene standards.
When Sir Jim Ratcliffe invested £1.25bn to take charge of the United situation, he pinpointed Old Trafford as a key concern. The most recent significant renovation of the stadium occurred in 2006. During that period, Manchester City, Liverpool, and Fulham have enhanced their stadiums. Brentford, Spurs, Brighton, and shortly Everton have constructed new stadiums. My own club Ipswich also refreshed Portman Road after confirming their return to the Premier League.
However, the disregard for Old Trafford has led to an enormous expense for its restoration. Ratcliffe's effort to obtain public funds was arranged to assist with the region surrounding the stadium, implying that the stated £2bn fee will be sourced from the club, which also carries a £1bn debt burden.
On Tuesday, Ratcliffe visited London to unveil the vision for Old Trafford for the first time. Created by architect Lord Norman Foster, known for his recent work on the Camp Nou, the initial images of the finished stadium were unveiled, and the reaction was rather underwhelming.
Similar to what we've observed in the Middle East in recent years, the proposals include a stadium covered by a tarpaulin-like umbrella that the club claims will collect solar energy and rainwater. They also mention it will be seen from 40km away which, setting aside atmosphere and ticket prices, is what every fan desires.
Three towers encircle it, one featuring what appears to be an observation deck where you will surely enjoy a £2,000 ticket to view the players as tiny as ants, and designs illustrate what the area beneath the canopy will resemble.
The illustrations depict round platforms with dancers executing performances above. Mascot Fred the Red gives high fives to children as they stroll by the Red Cafe. Members of the public observe the Manchester marathon as a canal boat glides past (which will be pleasant for the two days annually when it doesn’t rain).
The envisioned concept aligns perfectly with the desires of the owners. A single destination for fans to gather and importantly spend their money. Every aspect of the new plans has been crafted for profitability. The towering stands of Old Trafford have disappeared, replaced now by a flat bowl. The rationale for transitioning from four stands to a bowl is clear: it accommodates more individuals and generates higher revenue.
Of course, United aren't the only team that does this. Arsenal left the iconic Highbury for the Emirates, and even after 19 years, the matchday atmosphere remains lacking. Spurs have received acclaim for their modern stadium inaugurated in 2019, yet the contrast between this multi-million-pound venture and its location next to one of London’s most impoverished areas is something you would only understand by visiting, not merely by watching on television.
Travel 12 miles south, and West Ham supporters will gladly explain how a football stadium doesn’t become one simply by declaring it so.
In Europe, one of the most visually striking and recognizable stadiums globally, the Bernabeu now resembles a microwave from the exterior. The San Siro was on the verge of being torn down until it was recognized as a place of cultural significance.
The outcome of this recent trend is that numerous leading clubs in Europe are competing in stadiums that look the same. Athletic Bilbao's San Mames resembles Bayern's Allianz Arena. Atletico Madrid's Metropolitano Stadium resembles Wembley. Before long, Old Trafford might face a similar destiny as the Emirates.
However, a lifeless bowl isn't the sole option for clubs. Liverpool have effectively developed Anfield while preserving its essence. Dortmund's Westfalenstadion exemplifies how a stadium can accommodate more than 80,000 people while preserving the four-sided theater format that originated football.
Old Trafford had its imperfections, as it surely would after years of neglect, yet it's disheartening that yet another symbol of English football is fading like many others.
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