Manchester United have six clear options if they are forced to find a temporary home while their 100,000-seater stadium is being built. The Red Devils announced plans to press ahead with their lucrative regeneration project on Tuesday, with a brand spanking new ground expected to be the centrepiece.
It is set to be built on the adjacent land to where Old Trafford currently sits and there are no current plans to relocate. But Tottenham had similar plans and spent two years using Wembley as a temporary home. If United are made to do the same, there are several options available. Express Sport looks at six possible stadia which could host them in their time of need…
Wembley
Fans local to Old Trafford would wince at the 400-mile round trip they would be forced to make twice a month. But with a fanbase spread throughout the country, United should have no problems selling out Wembley on a regular basis, and the 90,000 capacity ensures the club will make good money in the process.
The Etihad
Manchester City’s stadium is only four and a half miles from Old Trafford, and by next year it will boast more than 60,000 seats. But moving there would require United to be handed a favour from their noisy neighbours.
Goodison Park
Everton will bid farewell to their historic home at the end of this season and move into a glitzy new ground at Bramley-Moore Dock. That could hand United an opportunity to move into a vacant Goodison Park, although they may encounter trouble with Liverpool council, who in 2022 approved the stadium’s demolition and gave their green light to the construction of a mixed-use housing complex.
Ewood Park
Only a 45-minute drive from Old Trafford, Blackburn’s ground would be one of the more convenient options for supporters. Getting hold of tickets may become a challenge, however, as it only holds around 31,000 spectators.
Hillsborough
The home of Sheffield Wednesday has the beating of Ewood Park with a capacity of nearly 40,000, and it is still under 50 miles away from Old Trafford. Whether it houses enough fans to satisfy United bosses remains to be seen.
Old Trafford Cricket Ground
One of the more off-the-wall options is setting up camp at the Emirates Old Trafford cricket ground which is less than a mile down the road. The stadium can hold 50,000 people, making it something worth thinking about, but obvious difficulties arise from using the same venue for two sports with completely different requirements.