STEEPNESS OF STANDS
“The UK regulations — and the UK is the forerunner of stadium regulations — are what we’re following and that gets you to a 35-degree angle for the terraces. So, there are other European grounds that are steeper than 35 degrees and, actually, I feel those are quite uncomfortable, because you really do need to watch your step.”
ACOUSTIC SPECIALISTS
“We haven’t fixed the geometry of the bowl yet. We’re trying to figure out all the different permutations. We’re working with acoustic specialists and seating specialists, trying to understand all the parameters that go into our models and tools to work through a bunch of whole different scenarios. We can test with VR goggles to test how this seat looks and that seat looks.
“What we’ve been looking at with acoustic specialists is how much reflection of sound, angling it back, and how much absorption you need. You want to not only see other fans around the stadium, but also hear other fans. So, looking at that, but also looking at the next questions about a screen. And I know this is a big thing. Do we introduce a screen? What sorts of screens do we have? Are they things to show action replays, to help generate atmosphere, sponsorship or do we not have screens at all? These are questions we want to go through.”
WHAT WILL THE CONCOURSES BE LIKE?
"For us, this is about it being the greatest football stadium in the world but it can only be for Manchester United, so it’s got to retain that grit and identity and feel, those materials. So there are things we can improve without making it feel totally different. The concourses need some love. Can we come up with much more flexible concourses, so you might not be sitting with your mates but you can catch up with them? Making it a much more friendly space, much better space for fans to get together but, at the same time, keeping that soul, so the industrial materiality that we’re talking about, they very much take clues from the original Old Trafford building: brick and steel. We’re not looking to make this look like a big shopping mall. This is very much a football stadium."