Old Trafford, home of Manchester United Football Club, is one of the most famous stadiums in world football. With a capacity of over 75,000, it is the largest club football stadium in the UK. Ticket prices at Old Trafford vary depending on the section and category, with some tickets starting from around £30 for lower profile matches while tickets for high-demand matches can cost over £100.
Ticket Categories at Old Trafford
There are several ticket categories at Old Trafford which determine the price:
- Category A – High profile matches against top Premier League rivals like Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea etc. This is the most expensive ticket category.
- Category B – Medium profile matches against mid-table Premier League teams or cup matches. This is the middle ticket category.
- Category C – Lower profile matches against newly promoted teams or early round cup matches. This is the cheapest ticket category.
Within each ticket category, there are also price variations depending on the stand in the stadium:
Stands at Old Trafford
- Sir Alex Ferguson Stand (North Stand) – The most expensive tickets located along the halfway line.
- East Stand – Second most expensive tickets located on the side, runs along the length of the pitch.
- Sir Bobby Charlton Stand (South Stand) – Located behind one of the goals, usually home to away supporters during some matches.
- Stretford End (West Stand) – Home to Manchester United’s most vocal supporters behind the goal.
There are also corporate boxes and hospitality packages available at premium prices for Old Trafford matches.
Ticket Prices for 2020/21 Season
To give an idea of the ticket pricing at Old Trafford, here are the ticket prices for a Category A match during the 2020/21 season:
Stand | Full Price Ticket |
---|---|
Sir Alex Ferguson Stand | £56-£98 |
East Stand | £56-£98 |
Sir Bobby Charlton Stand | £45-£80 |
Stretford End | £45-£80 |
As you can see, the most expensive tickets for big matches like Manchester Derby in Category A are around £98 in the prime sections like Sir Alex Ferguson and East Stands. The Stretford End with the loudest home fans has slightly cheaper tickets starting from £45.
For Category B and C matches, the prices are around 20-30% cheaper than Category A matches. So for example, a Category B match may have £56 tickets in East Stand reduced to £40-£45. Category C matches can see tickets starting from as low as £30 in some stands.
Factors Affecting Ticket Prices
There are several factors that can impact the price of a ticket at Old Trafford:
- Opponent – The profile of the opponent Manchester United is facing. Big matches see the highest prices.
- Stage of Competition – Knockout phase matches in Champions League or domestic cups command higher prices than group stage matches.
- Day and Time – Weekend and night matches are generally more expensive than midweek daytime matches.
- Team Performance – During poor performances by Manchester United, ticket prices can sometimes be reduced to encourage attendance.
Understanding these factors and the ticket categories, fans can get an idea of the match ticket price range at Old Trafford before purchasing.
How to Buy Tickets
There are a few ways to buy tickets for Manchester United matches at Old Trafford:
- Directly from the club – Fans can buy tickets on Manchester United’s official website once they become available to members and season ticket holders.
- Ticket resell websites – Websites like LiveFootballTickets.com provide a marketplace for fans to resell spare tickets.
- Ticket packages – Official travel partners like Thomas Cook Sport offer ticket plus travel and hotel packages.
- Memberships – Joining official memberships like the Manchester United Membership improves access to high-demand tickets.
Buying directly from Manchester United or becoming a member is the best way to get face value tickets, while ticket reselling sites allow you to get tickets for sold-out matches but at inflated prices.
Becoming a Member
To gain access to tickets during the priority sales period before general sale, fans can consider joining one of Manchester United’s official membership schemes:
- Official Membership – Basic membership with Lite benefits like entry to ticket priority window. £30 per year for UK members.
- Full Membership – Extra benefits like digital matchday programmes, merchandise discounts. £55 per year for UK members.
- International Membership – For overseas fans with reduced benefits. £55 per year.
Membership will give you the best chance to get tickets for in-demand matches that sell quickly during general sale. There is no guarantee of tickets though.
Conclusion
In summary, ticket prices at Manchester United’s home ground Old Trafford can vary greatly based on the match, seat location, and stage of the season or competition. For big games against rivals, expect to pay over £50 for a decent seat up to around £100 for the best seats.
Matchgoing fans can check the ticket category and pricing zone chart on Manchester United’s website when tickets go on sale to estimate costs. Becoming a member can help gain earlier access before the limited tickets sell out.
While Old Trafford remains one of the most iconic venues in football, the costs of attending matches reflects Manchester United’s commercial power as one of the biggest clubs in the world. For a truly memorable matchday experience in the Theatre of Dreams, many fans find the expense worthwhile.