{"id":292971,"date":"2023-11-03T16:24:55","date_gmt":"2023-11-03T16:24:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportsloveme.com\/?p=292971"},"modified":"2023-11-03T16:24:55","modified_gmt":"2023-11-03T16:24:55","slug":"man-united-could-lose-super-league-grand-final-host-rights-to-man-city","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportsloveme.com\/soccer\/man-united-could-lose-super-league-grand-final-host-rights-to-man-city\/","title":{"rendered":"Man United could lose Super League Grand Final host rights to Man City"},"content":{"rendered":"
Manchester United could lose staging rights for the Super League Grand Final to Manchester City due to the poor state of Old Trafford and uncertainty over the club\u2019s plans for a rebuild.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The climax of the rugby league season has been staged at Old Trafford since the inaugural Grand Final in 1998, with the exception of the behind-closed-doors Covid final in 2020 which was held in Hull, but United\u2019s contract to stage the event expires next year and it is unclear whether it will be renewed.<\/p>\n
The Rugby Football League have a good relationship with United and would welcome talks over extending their deal, but the club\u2019s need to upgrade Old Trafford has led them to consider potential alternatives, with the Etihad Stadium emerging as a potential contender.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mail Sport revealed last year that United were considering two main options for rebuilding Old Trafford \u2013 constructing a completely new ground on the same site at an estimated cost of \u00a32billion and a \u00a31bn rebuild \u2013 while Sir Jim Ratcliffe has pledged to provide \u00a3245m to improve infrastructure within 12 months of completing his \u00a31.3bn investment.<\/p>\n
While the Etihad\u2019s capacity is significantly lower than Old Trafford\u2019s at 53,000 to 74,000 the Grand Final attendance has not topped 60,000 since 2019 and a guaranteed sell-out is also more attractive to television.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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The 2023 Grand Final was won by Wigan Warriors at Old Trafford for their fifth trophy<\/p>\n
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The state of Old Trafford has been on the decline and the RFL are considering alternative venues<\/p>\n
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The RFL have also developed close links with City in recent years, with their executive and commercial teams moving into offices on the Etihad Campus last year.<\/p>\n
Talks with United over a potential contract extension are due to start imminently, but there are concerns that the club\u2019s negotiations with Ratcliffe could present a complicating factor.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ratcliffe is planning to review the club\u2019s executive team and is also interested in expanding Old Trafford\u2019s capacity to 90,000, both of which could have implications for the Grand Final.<\/p>\n
Old Trafford has not been selected by the FA as one of the venues for the 2028 European Championship, with the Etihad chosen instead, and losing the Grand Final to their local rivals would be another blow to United\u2019s prestige.<\/p>\n
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The Etihad has emerged as an alternative to Old Trafford as well as having been chosen to host games at Euro 2028<\/p>\n
It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube, Apple Music and Spotify.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Your browser does not support iframes.<\/p>\n