Manchester United in talks over Old Trafford expansion plans

English Premier League club Manchester United has confirmed initial meetings have been held with “a number” of architectural and engineering companies with regards the expansion of Old Trafford, as it seeks to work around the logistical challenges presented by the site.

Manchester United made the announcement on Friday as it released the minutes of a Fans’ Forum meeting held on December 8. The club said the meetings that had taken place allowed companies to “present their credentials” as potential partners for the project.

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“These meetings have produced exciting potential ideas, although it’s important to note that we’re still at an early stage and it’s premature to talk about timetables,” Collette Roche, Manchester United’s chief operating officer, said at the Fans’ Forum.

Old Trafford is the largest club football stadium in the UK with a capacity of 74,140 and has 111 years of history as United’s home ground.

However, it has fallen behind other major venues in terms of the modern matchday experience, with its last major development being the completion of the north-west and north-east quadrants in March 2006.

This project was announced in February 2004, prior to the Glazer family’s takeover in 2005, meaning that United’s current owners have failed to make any significant improvements to Old Trafford during their tenure, a frequent criticism of their stewardship.