Theatre of Dreams

Lore & Background

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 due to the Blitz. 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 in 2006, up from roughly 44,000 in 1993, following the conversion to an all-seater stadium.

Should further expansion occur, it is likely to involve the addition of a second tier to the South Stand, which would raise the capacity to around 88,000, although alternative suggestions have been made for a new stadium in recent years. 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.

Reader's Guide

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, and matches at the 1966 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 1996, the 2012 Summer Olympics and UEFA Women's Euro 2022. The stadium also hosted the 2003 Champions League Final. Outside football, the stadium is used occasionally for rugby league. It has been the venue for the Rugby Football League's annual Super League Grand Final, and previously Premiership Final, since 1987. In addition, it has been a host venue for four editions of the Rugby League World Cup - 1995, 2000, 2013, and 2021 (men's and women's).

Did You Know?

• Old Trafford was designed by Scottish architect Archibald Leitch, who also designed several other stadia.
• The first goal at Old Trafford was scored by Sandy Turnbull in a 4–3 loss to Liverpool on 19 February 1910.
• During the Second World War, German bombing raids in 1940 and 1941 damaged the stadium, forcing United to play at Maine Road until 1949.