Daily Mail: Manchester United’s Plan for Additional Fan Zone at Old Trafford Faces Opposition from Local Residents

According to the latest report from the Daily Mail, Manchester United had planned to open a fan zone behind the Stretford End, but the proposal has faced opposition from local residents.

It was reported that last month Manchester United unveiled the proposal for The Paddock, a venue with a capacity of 1,300 people. They hoped to open it behind the Stretford End before the club’s autumn fixtures began. The club said it was responding to requests from fans, and the fan zone would provide “food, drinks and great entertainment.”

However, the fan zone requires planning permission, and some residents living near the iconic stadium have not supported the plan. A petition signed by 50 people has been submitted to Trafford Council, with local residents listing various concerns about the proposal.

Some people have raised concerns that it could lead to increased “noise pollution”, while claiming that nearby households were not considered at all when the club selected the location. They said the only reason for choosing the site was that it would not take up valuable parking spaces that generate significant revenue.

Manchester United has also been accused of disregarding the quality of life of nearby residents and only focusing on “doing what is best for themselves”. One resident wrote: “They have many other places they could choose, where the extra noise they create would not directly affect residents, but they have chosen to put the fan zone close to where people live.”

The petition stated that the fan zone would be “only 110 metres” from nearby homes, and that there would be 19 to 30 additional opening periods each year, with each period lasting up to six extra hours. There are 36 households within 150 metres of the proposed site, including families with young children, elderly people and shift workers — all of whom would be affected by increased noise.

Manchester United said the free-entry venue would only operate on matchdays and that it would fully cooperate with residents through communication. The club also added that the stadium would comply with noise management guidelines and said further work was underway to address residents’ concerns, including soundproofing measures and ensuring speakers are positioned away from residential areas. A final decision will be announced at an appropriate time.