| "The Theatre of Dreams" | |
| |
| Location | Sir Matt Busby Way Old Trafford Greater Manchester England |
|---|---|
| Owner | Manchester United |
| Operator | Manchester United |
| Capacity | 102,000 |
| Record attendance | 102,000 (on numerous occasions) |
| 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 102,000, it is the largest football club stadium in the United Kingdom, it is the joint second largest stadium in the United Kingdom and the joint fourth largest stadium in Europe, joint with Twickenham Stadium. 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, and after further expansion in 2014 it now sits at a capacity of 87,000. Future expansion is set for the summer of 2017 which will see the capacity increased to 95,000 and the summer after that it will be expanded to 105,000. The club gained planning permission to extend it 105,000 back in 2010. The attendance record was set on October 28, 2017 in a Premier League game against Tottenham Hotspur with the attendance set at 92,000.
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.