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Manchester United are preparing for their first home match of the new season on Sunday, with the Red Devils set to take on Ipswich Town at Old Trafford.
The match is one that Man Utd fans have been looking forward to for several months, and last week's defeat to Hull is unlikely to have changed that.
Returning fans will notice some key differences to Old Trafford this season, as the club have been busy over the summer months upgrading certain parts of the stadium to improve everything from fan experience to player welfare.
Below, we run through the five upgrades made to Old Trafford since the end of last season.
Improved food and drink options
Food and beverage provision has been a key focus this summer. The club have installed new self-service bars in some of the concourses inside Old Trafford, while digital menu boards have also been installed to provide fans with real-time offers.
New playing surface
For the first time in 14 years, the Old Trafford turf has been completely replaced. The new hybrid surface consists of 96% natural and 4% artificial fibres. The hope is that this new surface will allow United to play the type of football Michael Carrick is after this season.
🎥 Video of the renovation of Old Trafford pitch ❤️
— SimplyUtd (@SimplyUtd) June 28, 2026
pic.twitter.com/kYU5z0sYrB
Expanded dugouts
UEFA requirements stipulate that all stadiums must have two dugouts with room for at least 20 people. At the end of last season, United's dugouts only had room for 16 people, so both dugouts have been expanded ahead of the club's return to the Champions League.
Ticket protection
Manchester United are working hard to crack down on ticket touts, but their processes within this project do need to improve as hundreds of season ticket holders received bans earlier in the summer for no apparent reason. The club would like to remind season ticket holders of their forwarding options for the season ahead.
Coming soon – The Paddock
A new fan zone outside Old Trafford is set to be built this year, with the club planning on opening it in the Autumn. The fan zone will sit just 15 metres away from the Stretford End and will have a capacity of 1,300.