Manchester United have reached an innovative new partnership that links the club’s historic Old Trafford with a unique educational initiative, prompting former United defender Gary Neville to describe the development as a “full circle moment”.
University Academy 92 (UA92), an institution co-founded by Neville and his fellow Class of ’92 teammates, will open a campus inside the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand from January 2026, blending sport, education and opportunity at the club’s iconic home.
The announcement forms part of a widening vision for the Old Trafford site, which is also central to Manchester United’s long-term stadium plans that could eventually see a completely new, 100,000-seat venue built as part of a wider regeneration project near the current ground.
Neville, speaking about the project, said that returning to Old Trafford in this capacity felt deeply symbolic.
“Manchester United is where my dreams started and now we have the privilege of helping the next generation achieve theirs,” he said, highlighting how historic stadium suites will become fully functional classrooms on non-matchdays.
The UA92 expansion will see several suites in the stand converted into teaching spaces, offering courses in areas including business of football, sports management, digital marketing and broadcast journalism.
Students will also benefit from access to Old Trafford’s cutting-edge media and training facilities, giving them real-world experience in a professional setting.
This educational move is the first of its kind at the club’s home and represents a major evolution from Old Trafford’s traditional role as a purely sporting venue.
It follows pledges from the club to ensure the stadium remains deeply embedded in Manchester’s social and economic fabric as plans for a new build continue to be shaped.
Neville and United’s wider Old Trafford vision
The UA92 agreement comes against the backdrop of Manchester United’s broader plans to transform their matchday environment.
Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the club’s leadership have been exploring options to either renovate Old Trafford or build a completely new stadium nearby, with ambitions for a world-class arena that could rival the biggest grounds in Europe.
Neville himself has been involved with stadium discussions through his role within United’s Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force, emphasising that the club must ensure any redevelopment honours both the team’s heritage and future needs.
Fans and local stakeholders have been engaged in consultation as those long-term plans continue to evolve.
While United remain at Old Trafford for the foreseeable future, the UA92 partnership highlights a creative approach to using the stadium outside of matchdays, maximising the historic venue’s community impact well before any bricks are laid for a new ground.
FGG Says
With this move, Manchester United are saying that the club’s identity is not only about the team on the pitch, but also about opportunity off it.
Blending education with football heritage could become a blueprint for how stadiums serve their communities during long redevelopment cycles. With stadium plans still in flux, this partnership ensures Old Trafford remains alive with purpose and promise.