Why it's raining inside Old Trafford

The Old Trafford, the historic home of Manchester United, continues to have many problems. During the last match against Arsenal played on Sunday, some spectators were forced to leave the stadium because of the rain that poured heavily onto the seats of the Stretford End stand. This is not the first time such an issue has arisen: both in 2019, during the home derby against Manchester City, and in September this season against Crystal Palace, the same inconvenience occurred. This time the Red Devils were even taunted by Arsenal fans, who ironically accompanied the incident with the chant «Old Trafford is falling down.» In the two hours after the final whistle, a total of 41 mm of rain fell; a whopping 25 mm in the first twenty minutes. Despite Manchester United's acknowledgment of the flaws in the stadium roof, they denied that the cascade of water pouring from the southwest corner of the Stretford End was due to a leak in the roof. Instead, they claimed that it was due to the enormous amount of precipitation that entered the drainage system, causing it to overflow.

The conditions of Old Trafford are a metaphor for Manchester United's season and Erik Ten Hag's adventure on the Red Devils' bench. The club has considered the option of replacing the roof. Yet, it remains just an option as the cost of the operation would be quite substantial. There have been talks for years about the redevelopment process of Old Trafford, and Jim Ratcliffe, the wealthiest man in the UK and a minority shareholder of the team, had already promised in the fall of 2023 to have new plans for the stadium's refurbishment. The entrepreneur confirmed the intention to spend £245 million on United's infrastructure overhaul, including the training center.

To return to the competitive levels of the past, immediate intervention is needed, considering that the rain issue also concerns the Sir. Bobby Charlton Stand. There has long been talk of a project concerning the stand that would see an increase in seating capacity. But the Sir. Bobby Charlton Stand would not be easy to restore, as the project would require the installation of a concrete support above the railway line adjacent to the stand to facilitate demolition. Due to the recent increase in prices on raw materials, the cost of concrete would be even more significant, making the restoration project more complicated: modernizing Manchester United's stadium is a complex operation that also affects the city's urban planning, and the only savior seems to be Jim Ratcliffe, but now it will be discussed again from the next season.