Capacity for disabled seating to double at Old Trafford
An extra 278 seats are set to be installed.
The number of disabled seats available at Old Trafford is set to double by the end of this season.
An extra 278 seats are to be installed at Manchester United’s stadium thanks to an £11 million investment.
Work is already underway to incorporate 118 new wheelchair positions and 158 amenity seats at spots dotted throughout the ground at various distances and heights from the pitch, including a new purpose-built concourse at the back of the Stretford End.
The seats are being trialled by users on a match by match basis already.
The facilities are due to be permanently in use for the 2020-21 season and will be available at different price levels.
The new seats will be located in:
- Stretford End Tier 1 in close proximity to the Family Stand
- Stretford End Tier 2
- The Away End
- Extended facilities in the North West Quadrant Tier 2
The move follows the club’s commitment in 2017 to improve provision for disabled supporters at Old Trafford and Manchester United said it has been working closely with the Manchester United Disabled Supporters’ Association (MUDSA) to establish the plans.
From those discussions, the new wheelchair user platforms and amenity seating areas across the four locations will take the place of the three remaining platforms built in 2017 that have not been brought into use.
The club’s ticket office has notified the small number of supporters with seats affected by the revised plans, and expects all Season Ticket holders to be accommodated in comparable seating.
Richard Arnold, Manchester United’s group managing director, said: “Since the construction of new accessible facilities in 2017, we have worked closely with MUDSA to further improve the provision for disabled supporters at Old Trafford.
“Our revised plans address the overwhelming majority of feedback we received from supporters and key stakeholders. I would like to thank MUDSA for all of their hard work and effort in helping us to reach this point; we are proud to maintain such a strong and positive relationship with them.
“These plans will also minimise the need to relocate other fans in comparison to previous proposals. We will do everything we can to ensure the transition is as smooth as possible for anyone with seats impacted by the new accessible facilities and thank them for their understanding.”