Old Trafford will undergo a project of extensive renovation and improvement, but not before the Glazer family has finished the ongoing “strategic review,” which may or may not include a full takeover of Manchester United.
Since November 2022, when it was announced that the American owners would begin considering “strategic alternatives” for the club’s future, they have been examining their choices.
That made a full takeover possible, though it hasn’t been the only option on the table. Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani are vying to become the new owner.
Due to the uncertainty surrounding who will lead the club, there have been worries that the process is negatively affecting the club’s activities this summer. As it stands, Sheikh Jassim has submitted his fifth and final offer, which is in the neighborhood of £6 billion, but no preferred bidder has been identified, and negotiations have continued with all interested parties.
This seems to be the case when it comes to Old Trafford’s upkeep. According to The Manchester Evening News, Maris Interiors has a contract to update the offices within the storied stadium, but the renovations won’t begin until the club’s future is decided.
Similarly, after submitting proposals for a refurbishment or rebuild of Old Trafford last year, Populous, a company that specializes in stadium master planning, is still in the dark.
In comparison to some of the cutting-edge venues appearing in the Premier League, The Theatre of Dreams has infamously fallen into disrepair in recent years, with roof leaks and an overflowing toilet the subject of social media jokes. Liverpool has decided against constructing a brand-new stadium and is instead working to complete renovations to a second stand that have been in the works for the past ten years.
In the 18 years that Glazer has owned Old Trafford, no significant restoration or stadium expansion projects have been approved; the most recent building work was agreed upon in 2004 and completed in 2006. In recent years, there have been a few more small renovations, such as painting the stadium’s exterior and decorating the media area and dressing rooms.
