Old Trafford - the Theatre of Dreams (Old Trafford)

Member Name: rji0907

Product:	Old Trafford
Date:	20/06/09 (41 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Amazing atmosphere

Disadvantages: None whatsoever

I have chosen to review Old Trafford football ground as i am a huge Man United fan and until around four years ago when my son was born i was a regular visitor to Old Trafford attending all Man Uniteds home games for around 10 years or so and i miss it terribly!!

The atmosphere you experience during a game here is electric. You would be hard pushed to find an atmosphere like it when a game is in full flow, especially when a goal goes in and the stadium erupts - makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up! It almost became like my second home so am now feeling a little homesick having been away from Old Trafford for so long.

Old Trafford is a huge landmark in Manchester, such is its size it can be seen from the M60 looking over Manchester.

The ground currently seats 76,212 spectators and is the second largest ground in the country (second only to Wembley of course). Old Trafford, or the Theatre of Dreams as it was once named by Sir Bobby Charlton has been home to Manchester United since February 1910 and was built at a cost of £90,000. It has been expanded many times since to reach its recent capacity. The North Stand now sits three tiers high and is one hell of a climb to the top (those with vertigo or breathing difficulties would really struggle to get up here). The Stretford end is generally where the 'hard core' supporters with season tickets tend to sit. The South stand is where you get the 'suited and booted' corporate seats which leaves the recently extended west stand. Away fans have an area between the Stretford end and South Stand in the corner.

Old Trafford has been Uniteds permanent home apart from a period during World War 2 when it was bombed. In 1941 a bomb landed on Old Trafford meaning United then had to share a ground with arch rivals Manchester City who at the time were at Maine Road. Old Trafford re-opened again in 1949 after an 8 year absence.

Old Trafford has been host to many football legends including George Best, Sir Bobby Charlton, Dennis Law, Duncan Edwards and more recently Mark Hughes, Eric Cantona and Roy Keane and has seen great managers including Sir Alex Ferguson and Sir Matt Busby (Old Trafford now sits on Sir Matt Busby Way in Trafford, Manchester).

If you are not lucky enough to be able to experience a game at the Theatre of Dreams then you can take a stadium tour. You get to have a tour round the dressing rooms, press rooms, the stadium itself, trophy room, museum and learn some interesting history about the ground itself. The prices are pretty reasonable too and the cheapest i have found on the net are
£ 11.24 adult
£ 9.22 children
from Buyagift.com

Even if you are not a big Man United fan like myself if you are interested in football i would still recommend this tour for the history lessons alone.

Old Trafford is a real special place for me & thoroughly recommend a visit whether on a match day or not, you wont be disappointed.

Summary: Like my second home - i miss it!!!