Future of Old Trafford: What 3,200 supporters told MUST Headline findings from MUST's independent stadium survey Dear Member, Few decisions in Manchester United's history will have a greater impact than the future of Old Trafford. Over the past few weeks many of you took part in MUST's stadium survey. Thank you to everyone who did. With more than 3,200 responses, it is the largest independent survey of Manchester United supporters yet published on this issue. The key message Support for a new stadium is not fixed. It depends on the decisions made as the project develops. |
We wanted to understand not simply whether supporters preferred a new stadium or redevelopment, but what would determine whether fans ultimately united behind whichever option is pursued. The results show that supporters are far less divided than some headlines suggest. More importantly, they identify the decisions most likely to build — or undermine — support for whichever stadium option is ultimately pursued. The survey was completed before the recent announcement that Manchester United had completed the purchase of the land needed for the proposed new stadium. Opinion may continue to evolve as more information becomes available. Current opinion At present, opinion is finely balanced. 47% currently favour a new stadium | 45% currently prefer redevelopment |
- Among season ticket holders there is a slight preference for redevelopment.
- Members - (match-by-match ticket buyers) lean slightly towards a new stadium.
- There is a noticeable age divide, with older supporters generally more supportive of a new stadium and younger supporters more cautious.
What would shape support? Many supporters remain open-minded. Rather than taking an entrenched position for or against a new stadium, many fans told us their support would depend on these issues: Ticket prices
Only 31% would still support a new stadium if it means a £10 per-match increase vs current pricing. | Capacity
Support is much stronger for a 100,000-capacity stadium than an 80,000-capacity stadium. | Atmosphere
Supporters consistently prioritised atmosphere over revenue-maximising measures. | Financing
Debt based finance reduces support significantly. Equity funding - Fan shares with voting rights increases support | Supporter culture
PSLs in general admission areas would significantly reduce support. | Heritage and identity
For those preferring redevelopment, this remains the single biggest factor. |
This suggests there is still a genuine opportunity to build broader confidence by listening carefully to supporters as plans develop. Why does this matter? The survey suggests supporters see ticket pricing as about much more than affordability. The prices chosen for Old Trafford are also seen as a statement of Club values. They influence whether supporters feel they are viewed primarily as customers or as an essential part of Manchester United's identity and long-term success. For many supporters, that may become one of the defining tests of the entire project. What happens next? Whatever individual supporters think about redevelopment or a new stadium, almost everyone shares the same ambition: a world-class home for Manchester United that strengthens the club for generations while preserving everything supporters value about Old Trafford. We have asked to present these findings as part of the next stage of the stadium consultation and hope they help inform thinking as plans continue to develop. Following those discussions, we will publish the full report for members. We also believe greater transparency around Manchester United's own 2024 stadium survey would strengthen confidence in the consultation process. Our independent survey paints a more finely balanced picture than the headline findings previously released. Publishing the detailed data and demographic breakdowns from the earlier research would help supporters understand the evidence more fully, compare it with other research and contribute to a more informed debate. This will not be the end of our work. Over the coming months MUST will continue consulting supporters to explore these issues in greater depth and identify the priorities and red lines that matter most to fans. Finally The future of Old Trafford is about far more than a building. It is about what kind of football club Manchester United wants to be over the next hundred years. MUST's role is not to decide that future. Our role is to ensure supporters have every opportunity to help shape it. As always, we will continue listening, researching, representing your views independently and working constructively to ensure supporters remain at the heart of one of the biggest decisions in Manchester United's history.
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