Spotify Old Trafford? Man United consider selling stadium naming rights
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Manchester United's Old Trafford Stadium | Imago

Spotify Old Trafford? Man United consider selling stadium naming rights

Faruq Ibrahim 16:09 - 26.06.2024

Premier League giants Manchester United are reportedly planning to sell naming rights for Old Trafford.

Manchester United are reportedly contemplating selling the naming rights of their Iconic stadium, Old Trafford, for the first time in their history. 

Old Trafford set for facelift 

The dilapidated state of Old Trafford is one of the worst-kept secrets in football. Match-going fans of the club have flagged the compounding problem for years, and Cristiano Ronaldo’s explosive interview with Piers Morgan, in which he emphasised the ageing state of the facilities, brought the issue to public notice. 

This recently concluded season, clips from the stadium made the rounds on the internet showing critical structural problems, including leaking the roof. 

Old Trafford, Manchester, United Kingdom
Old Trafford, Manchester, United Kingdom

Fixing the facilities is possibly as major an issue as mending the club's shoddy sporting department and according to the Athletic, £120 million of the £238 million cash infusion from INEOS upon the takeover was earmarked for infrastructural development. The club is to decide on refurbishing the current ground or building a spanking new stadium. 

Man United plan selling stadium rights 

The Glazer's business policy of borrowing money against Manchester United was one of the major factors that prompted fans to pressure the family to sell the club. 

The aforementioned funds set aside for development of the facilities have reportedly now been used to service debt. Pressed for funds to undertake this capital-intensive project, the club's leadership are reportedly evaluating the possibility of selling the naming rights to the planned refurbished or newly-built stadium. 

The current ground has always been named Old Trafford. A change to a sponsor’s name would see the Red Devils go a similar route as Arsenal (Emirates) and Manchester City (Etihad).

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