Manchester United have no immediate plans to repair the Old Trafford roof due to a possible rebuild

Manchester United have no immediate plans to fix the roof problems that caused mass leaks at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Old Trafford failed to cope with a biblical storm as the roof of the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand leaked and water gushed into the stands after the 1-0 defeat to Arsenal.

The footage also showed rain pouring down inside the tunnel and in front of the balconies that house hospitality guests.

United have explored the feasibility of a new roof and drawn up detailed plans for a possible replacement for the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand. However, club sources say it would be a multi-million pound project, with engineering work spanning several years, which would cause significant disruption to the running of the stadium. United would also incur huge operating costs.

Due to co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s preference for rebuilding Old Trafford on the existing site, no significant roof work is planned.

United sources said the water gushing out of the East Stand was not a leak, but was the result of a huge volume of rain entering the roof’s siphon drainage system so quickly it caused it to overflow.

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A similar waterfall developed on the roof of the Stretford End ahead of the Manchester derby in April 2019. In December 2021, director of operations Jim Liggett dismissed the leak on the fans’ forum and attributed it to “the siphon system draining water from surface in the roof, not a leak in the roof itself’.

Leaks from rainfall on the press offices in the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand have been reported since January 2017. A United source admitted that their stadium – the UK’s biggest club stadium – suffers sporadic leaks and the roof is “showing its age” .

There has been minimal work at Old Trafford since the Glazers completed their takeover in May 2005. The only extensions – the north-west and north-east quadrants – were implemented in March 2006, but work was approved in February 2004.

Old Trafford is not among the 10 stadiums to host European Championship matches in Great Britain and Ireland in 2028.

Ratcliffe has described Old Trafford as “decrepit” and is determined to rebuild the stadium on the existing site. Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer was invited to Old Trafford on Sunday as a guest of Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham. Starmer spoke to Ratcliffe and Lord Coe, the chairman of the Old Trafford regeneration task force, before kick-off.

41mm of rain fell in the two hours after the final whistle of United’s defeat to Arsenal, and United recorded 29mm of rain at Old Trafford in May 2023 as well.

The storm also caused leaks inside the terminal at Manchester Airport and near the Victoria warehouse.