Old Trafford is the largest League football ground in England and is one of the most iconic football venues in the world.
The stadium was built next to the Bridgewater Canal in 1910 and, apart from an eight-year gap because of bomb damage sustained during the Second World War, it has been Manchester United's home ever since.
Old Trafford underwent several expansions in the 1990s and 2000s, including the addition of extra tiers to the North, West and East Stands, almost returning the stadium to its original capacity of 80,000. The stadium's record attendance was recorded in 1939, when 76,962 spectators watched the FA Cup semi-final between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Grimsby Town.
Old Trafford has hosted an FA Cup Final, two Final replays, and was regularly used as a neutral venue for the competition's semi-finals. It has also hosted England fixtures, matches at the 1966 World Cup, Euro 96, and the 2012 Summer Olympics as well as the 2003 Champions League Final. Outside football, it has been the venue for Rugby League's annual Super League Grand Final every year but one since 1987, and the final of Rugby League World Cups in 2000 and 2013.
There are plenty of nods to the club's illustrious past at the ground with statues of Sir Matt Busby, Sir Alex Ferguson and the 'Holy Trinity' of Denis Law, Sir Bobby Charlton and George Best located at various points around the 'Theatre of Dreams'.
DID YOU KNOW?
The 1915 FA Cup Final between Sheffield United and Chelsea was held at Old Trafford. Sheffield United won the match 3–0 in front of nearly 50,000 spectators, most of whom were in the military, leading to the final being nicknamed "the Khaki Cup Final"
HOW TO GET THERE
The fastest way of getting to the stadium is to take a tram from Piccadilly Station to Old Trafford.
National Rail
Manchester Picadilly station [MAN] is located at London Road, Manchester M60 7RA; 3.5 miles from the ground.
It offers the following services:
Directions to ground: take the Metrolink westbound towards Old Trafford. Then, follow the instructions above.
Manchester Oxford Road station [MCO]
The station is located at Oxford Road, Manchester M1 6FU; 2.7 miles from the ground.
It offers the following services:
Directions to ground: take any eastbound service towards Manchester Piccadilly, before taking the Metrolink to the stadium using the above directions.
Tram/Metrolink
Old Trafford (10 mins’ walk from the ground)
Tickets can be purchased from ticket machines on the platforms by cash or credit/debit card. Lancashire County Cricket Club on Warwick Road will be on your left-hand side as you approach Old Trafford. The walk takes around 10 minutes, from Warwick Road leading onto Sir Matt Busby Way.
Bus
Routes 79, 255, 256, 263, 250 and X50 all connect Old Trafford with Manchester City Centre.
Taxi
New Moon - 0161 864 1010
Car
The stadium is served by the following main roads:
From City Centre
Old Trafford lies southwest of central Manchester, a short trip away using the A56 or the A57 and Trafford Road. Fans arriving from the west or south are able to avoid Manchester City Centre on their way to the ground, if desired.
Stadium Area
The stadium lies just south of the Manchester Ship Canal, and is approached by the A5081 (Wharfside Way) from the west, A5063 (Trafford Road) from the north, and A56 (Chester Road) from the south and east. Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground is 5 minutes south of Old Trafford. Sir Matt Busby Way, which leads right up to the stadium, is closed on matchdays.
Parking
Trafford Council operates a pay-to-park facility on event days within the Trafford Village area of Trafford Park, close to Old Trafford.
Payment can be made via RingGo using a mobile phone or app on the day of an event.
Access to car parks E1 & E2 can only be gained via Wharfside Way with the relevant permits. Anyone attempting to access via Chester Road will be directed around the traffic system, which may cause further delays. Where acting upon police instructions, supporters parking on E1 & E2 may be held back after the match and we apologise for any such delays.
There are other council-approved facilities near to the stadium. Caution should be taken when using unapproved parking sites, as some of these are known to breach local authority parking regulations and could result in a ticket being issued, for which the club is not liable.
Stadium Information
The away turnstiles are located at the South East corner of the stadium, between the East Stand and Sir Bobby Charlton Stand, and will open 2 hours prior to kick-off.
All bags will be searched and items larger than the size criteria (20cm x 15cm x 5cm (8" x 6" x 2") must be left at one of the ‘Bag Drop’ facilities. If you have any questions before your visit, please contact [email protected] or telephone +44 (0)161 676 7770.
For a full list of prohibited items, visit manutd.com/prohibiteditems.
Where to Eat and Drink
The city centre has plenty of eating and drinking options for visiting fans, including The Printworks, The Corn Exchange, Peter Street, the Northern Quarter and Oxford Road, all with public transport links nearby to get you to Old Trafford in time for the match. Refreshments are also available from catering vans outside the stadium and kiosks within the away concourse. Please be advised Old Trafford is a cashless stadium.