Manchester United F.C. Old Trafford home-away dugouts expansion

Article posted by Coliseum, July 7^th, 2026

Image: Coliseum GSVA

The Premier League team Manchester United F.C. preparations for the new season are set to continue with an expansion of the home and the away dugouts at their home field – the Old Trafford in Greater Manchester, England (UK).

It has been agreed that both the dugouts will have 21 seats.

The existing dugouts currently have three rows of seats: Four at the back, six in the middle and six at the front. Think of it like a 4-6-6 formation.

This project will transform both spaces to eight seats at the back, seven in the middle and six at the front. An 8-7-6 formation, if you will.

But why is this happening?

‘MANCHESTER UNITED’ stated that it’s all because of changes to the Union of European Football Association’s (UEFA’s) Stadium Infrastructure Regulations – made in 2025 – specifically for the clubs participating in the Men’s Champions League.

The Manchester United Football Club, commonly referred to as Man United (often stylized as Man Utd) or simply United, is a professional football club based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, England (UK). They compete in the Premier League, the top tier of English football.

The Old Trafford is a football stadium in the Old Trafford area of Greater Manchester, England (UK). It is the home ground of Manchester United F.C. With a capacity of 74,500 it is the largest club football stadium in the United Kingdom and the 11^th-largest in Europe.

Nyon (Switzerland)-based the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) is the governing body of football in Europe consisting of 55 national associations.

The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Stadium Infrastructure Regulations (Edition 2025) are a comprehensive set of structural, operational and safety criteria that the stadiums must meet to host the ⁠UEFA competitions. Replacing the 2018 edition they went into effect on June 1^st, 2025.

The UEFA Champions League (UCL or UEFA CL), commonly known as the Champions League, is an annual club association football competition organized by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) that is contested by the top-division European clubs.

Crucial Details

‘MANCHESTER UNITED’ further stated that according to Article Eight of the new rules the stadiums “must be equipped with two team benches located on either side of the halfway line, parallel to the touchline, each with seating for at least 20 people and positioned at least four meters from the touchline”.

The crucial detail is a minimum of 20 seats because the Old Trafford’s dugouts have 16 seats at present and construction is therefore required.

A design was drawn up in recent months and confirmed after Michael Carrick’s (Head Coach of Manchester United F.C.) ‘The Reds’ secured their much-anticipated return to the Champions League.

When is it Happening?

The building work began on July 1^st and it will take several weeks to complete.

During this time of construction the fans enjoying the stadium tour will take a new route around the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand where the respective dugouts are located.

New Pitch

As reported last month the club is currently installing a completely new pitch at the Old Trafford for the first time in 14 years.

Led by the award-winning groundsman Tony Sinclair and his team of experts it will be regrown in a concerted effort to improve player welfare and water drainage.

The seeding process is set to begin soon with a perfect playing surface expected for the first half of August.

New Stadium

The Manchester United F.C. has secured majority of the land required to build a new 100,000-seater stadium. It marks a major milestone in the long-term vision to transform the Old Trafford area.

‘Generational Opportunity’

Reacting to the news, Collette Roche, Manchester United F.C. Head Honcho of New Stadium Development, said, “Being able to build so close to Old Trafford allows us to preserve the heritage, traditions and rituals that are so important to our fans. We are committed to building a world-class stadium with our supporters, not just for them, with atmosphere, affordability and accessibility at the heart of our thinking. This is a generational opportunity that is fully aligned with both the local and national growth ambitions. Securing the right land for our new home has been absolutely critical and the land we’ve acquired gives us the stage to deliver a truly world-class stadium that honors our past and is ready for our future.”

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