New Man United Stadium: Gordon Strachan calls for “raw energy” to return to Old Trafford 2.0 (exclusive)

Manchester United's proposed new 100,000-seater stadium must recapture the “raw energy” of Old Trafford if it is to become a worthy successor to the club's historic home, according to former United midfielder Gordon Strachan.

United are progressing with plans for a new stadium approximately 350 metres north-west of the existing Old Trafford, with the proposed venue forming part of a wider regeneration of the area. 

The £2bn project, designed by Foster + Partners, is intended to create one of the biggest football stadiums in the world, while the club has stressed the importance of maintaining the heritage and matchday traditions associated with Old Trafford.

However, Strachan believes the biggest challenge will not simply be producing an impressive modern arena, but recreating the atmosphere that made Old Trafford and other historic British grounds so intimidating.

Strachan wants “raw energy” back at Manchester United

Strachan believes modern stadiums have gradually lost some of the atmosphere generated by traditional terraces, where supporters were packed together and closely connected to the action.

“Yeah. I think that raw energy needs to come back,” Strachan said. “There aren't many stadiums that have got this raw energy anymore because of the nice facilities, which we like a lot better nowadays.”

The former United player remembers an era when supporters were standing among one another, moving with the crowd and creating an intensity that was difficult to replicate elsewhere.

“You remember the days when you're standing on the terrace, and you're moving about with the crowd, and you're actually in with the crowd on the move, you're moving, you're shoving, you're pushing,” he said.

For Strachan, that atmosphere was also helped by the relationship between supporters and players, with fans feeling completely invested in the team rather than becoming distracted by issues away from the pitch.

“There wasn't any politics in it back then. That was your team, you supported them,” he added.

The 100,000-capacity stadium is expected to provide significantly upgraded facilities, with United aiming to create a world-class fan experience. The club has also said that atmosphere, affordability and accessibility will remain central to the plans.

Modern stadiums risk creating entitled supporters

Strachan believes the improvement in stadium facilities has brought obvious benefits but can also change the behaviour of supporters.

He contrasted the old matchday experience with the increasingly premium surroundings found at many major grounds.

“Okay, you get European nights nowadays when everybody gets up in their seats, but I think Old Trafford is like a lot of places where you go, ‘Right, okay, fold my arms, entertain me. I've spent fortunes, entertain me,” he said.

“I think a lot of stadiums are like that now.”

The Scot believes the change is partly linked to the wider transformation of football, with supporters now entering increasingly luxurious surroundings rather than the basic terraces of previous generations.

“Definitely fans are more entitled. And part of that is because the actual surroundings make us feel more entitled because it's luxury hotels you're going into now most of the time,” Strachan said.

United's new stadium will have a vast canopy covering the venue and surrounding commercial space, while hospitality is expected to account for a significant proportion of the seats.

Strachan accepts that the football experience has changed permanently, but hopes United can still find a way to bring some of the old intensity into their new home.

“I don't think it'll change the atmosphere and the drive of the group of fans,” he said. “But definitely fans are more entitled.”

He pointed to Celtic Park as one of the few modern examples where that intensity can still emerge.

“I think occasionally, you'll get that raw energy at Celtic,” Strachan added. “It's the same look at Celtic Park because it's there for a while, but then they go, ‘Right, entertain me. I've spent fortunes. These are the top players.' So it's a different world now.”

FGG Says: United's biggest challenge is not the size

The scale of Manchester United's proposed stadium is difficult to comprehend, but Strachan raises an important point, which is that a stadium can be spectacular without necessarily being intimidating.

The new venue will have the capacity, facilities and technology to rival the biggest stadiums in world football. Yet the most difficult part to reproduce could be something that cannot simply be designed into a blueprint.

Old Trafford's identity was built over generations through supporters, success, rivalry and the experience of standing among thousands of other fans. United can recreate the architecture, improve the acoustics and make the matchday experience considerably more comfortable, but the club cannot simply manufacture the “raw energy” Strachan remembers.

That makes fan involvement particularly important as the project progresses. United have already promised to work closely with supporters, with the club insisting that atmosphere will remain at the heart of the development.

Gordon Strachan was speaking to FGG on behalf of Grosvenor Sport