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Manchester United
Old Trafford
The Ground
With the completion of an additional tier of
seating in the North East & North West corners, costing some £45m, Old
Trafford the then largest league ground in Britain, has got even bigger.
Whether the Club continue with the expansion of Old Trafford by replacing
the old Main (South) Stand, remains to be seen. The proximity of a railway
line directly behind this stand has prevented
re-development in the past,
but I would not be surprised if this eventually happens as the Club have nowhere
else left in the stadium that they can expand upon.
Old Trafford has always been a special place as it was
one of the few grounds where the stands envelop the corners. Although more
grounds are now also totally enclosed, Old Trafford's sheer size still makes
it a bewildering sight. Both ends, which look almost identical,
are large two tiered stands. Each are steep, with a large lower tier and smaller upper tier. The three tiered North
Stand at one side of the ground, is
the largest capacity stand of any League Ground in England.
The corners each side of the North Stand are also
filled with seating and extend around to meet both ends. These re-developed stands dwarf the older Main (South)
Stand on the opposite
side. This stand is single tiered, with a television gantry suspended below its roof.
All the stands have a row of executive boxes
at the back of the lower tier.
The ground looks a little
imbalanced with the smaller older Main (South) Stand looking somewhat out of place with
its larger newer neighbours. However, in my opinion the best views of the
ground are from the front of this stand and from the away section, as you
look out upon the three newer, larger sides. Still, if this Main Stand was
to be re-developed in the same
manner as the others, then the ground
would possibly be the envy of Europe.
Unusual aspects of the ground include the raised pitch, and that
the teams enter the field from the corner of the Main Stand. Outside the ground is the Sir Matt Busby Statue fronting the impressive green glassed East Stand
facade. There is also a clock and plaque in remembrance of the
Munich disaster. Across Sir Matt Busby Way is the recently erected statue
of three of the 1968 European Cup winning team; George Best, Denis Law and
Bobby Charlton (now Sir). |
