Disability Access Officer
Austin Campbell
Old Trafford
Manchester United
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Introduction
At Manchester United, we understand the need to ensure that all of our supporters enjoy their visit to Old Trafford. The club recognises that our disabled supporters and those with access requirements may need additional assistance to fully enjoy their experience. We take this into accounwt and offer a host of reasonable adjustments to suit individuals’ needs.
Old Trafford saw its first match against Liverpool on 19th February 1910, undergoing several enlargements and improvements since. It remains one of the most iconic andlargest capacity stadiums in the UK.
Old Trafford is situated just over 2 miles out of Manchester city centre in the Borough of Trafford. It is a 10-15 minute walk from the nearest Metrolink station (Old Trafford) or a 15 minute taxi ride from Manchester Piccadilly train station.
The Manchester United Museum & Tour Centre, and the club Megastore are situated within the stadium, with the Ticketing & Membership Services building located within W2 car park.
Transport to/from Stadium
By Metrolink
The Metrolink operates a frequent service from the city centre (including Victoria & Piccadilly Stations) to Old Trafford station which is situated within a 10-15 minute walk of the football ground. Old Trafford Metrolink station is fully accessible for supporters using wheelchairs or with mobility issues.
Metrolink enquiries: 0161 205 2000
customerservices@metrolink.co.uk
By Train
Piccadilly Station is the main station in Manchester and is a 15 minute taxi ride away from Old Trafford.
National Rail enquiries: 0345 748 4950
For information on accessible transport in Manchester, please visit: www.tfgm.com/accessible_transport
By Car
If travelling to Old Trafford on a match day, we advise all supporters travelling by car to arrive at the stadium early as traffic around Old Trafford becomes very congested nearer to kick-off time. Post code for navigational use is M16 0RA.
If travelling to Old Trafford on a non-match day you can park free of charge in car parks E2 or N2 (see map above). Supporters requiring blue badge parking can park in E2 or W2 – please display your blue badge on arrival, and our car park team will be happy to direct you to the most suitable space. This will need to be arranged prior to your visit.
Major roadworks have begun on key roads surrounding the stadium which will last for several years. This will increase your journey time to and from the stadium if you travel by car and could impact your route. For full details visit: www.manutd.com/gettinghere
By Taxi
Manchester Airport: 20-30 minutes, Piccadilly Station: 15 minutes, taxis can drop off directly outside stadium on Sir Matt Busby Way.
By Bus
Transport for Greater Manchester operates a regular bus service to Old Trafford from the city centre.
The nearest bus stop is located on Trafford Wharf Road. This is serviced by the X50 and 250 bus which runs from the city centre to the Trafford center every 20 minutes. You can also get the bus from Manchester Piccadilly Gardens to the nearby ‘Chester Road – Warwick Road’ bus stop.
TFGM enquiries: 0871 200 2233
Stadium Parking
We have a number of official car parks within the stadium grounds and just outside the footprint that accommodate stadium staff, Season Ticket holders and visitors, including coach bays and accessible parking bays for disabled supporters.
Car park spaces can be booked seasonally at a cost of £276, or match by match at a cost of £12 by calling 0161 676 7770 or online at: www.manutd.com/tickets
Blue badge spaces can be booked by calling 0161 676 7770 .
All car parks have a tarmacked surface and are fully lit with the exception of N4 and E3 which have a gravel finish and are unlit.
Access to car parks E1 & E2 can only be gained via Chester Road and Wharfside Way respectively, Sir Matt Busby Way is a ‘no through’ road. On a match day, there is no access from Chester Road.
Car parks E1 and E2 are around 200 metres from the accessible AE1and AE2 entrance in the East Stand.
Mobility Buggy
A mobility buggy is available for use from the outer car park N3 to the stadium entrance. The mobility buggy runs three times before a match and once after a match and is available to any match day fans who have mobility issues or difficulty walking longer distances, but who are not blue badge holders or require the use of one of the dedicated disabled parking bays. There are dedicated stops around the car parks identifying buggy pick up and drop off points and this is operated on a first come, first served basis.
Pedestrian Access
Main Entrance
The club reception is situation within the East Stand next to the Megastore and is accessible, with a lower height reception desk and integrated hearing loop.
Stadium Entrances
All non-hospitality turnstiles, which are opened 2 hours before kick off, are 460mm (18”) wide with supporters gaining access via swipe cards. Accessible Entrances are in the South East Corner (AE1), East Stand Tunnel (AE2), North East, West Tier 2 and North West Quadrants, which are all fully staffed by match day Stewards to offer assistance to supporters where needed.
Access Stewards
In addition to our Stadium and Safety Stewards, the club has employed and trained Access Stewards to operate on a match day to offer additional support to any fans or visitors regardless of the location of their seat within the stadium (within the accessible seating area or wider stadium seating areas). The Access Stewards are easily visible in purple tabards and can be requested ahead of the game by contacting accessibility@manutd.co.uk or 0161 524 0211, or on the match day itself by reporting to one of the four ‘here to help’ booths dotted around the stadium.
Lift Access
There are a number of lifts around the stadium to allow supporters to comfortably move throughout the stadium.
Ticketing / Box Office
The Ticketing & Membership Services building is situated in W2 car park as can be seen on the location plan and is accessed on a match day via Wharfside Way. The building is fully accessible for wheelchair users with level access and two double automatic doors each measuring 1520mm (60”). There is adequate space for queueing, a low level counter, hearing loop system and staff on hand to assist. Lighting is a mixture of fluorescent and spot lighting.
For all ticketing enquiries please contact the Ticket Office on: 0161 676 7770 or email: tickets@manutd.co.uk
Supporters with access requirements can call: 0161 524 0211, email: accessibility@manutd.co.uk or visit: www.manutd.com/accessibility
Opening Hours
Monday - Friday: 08:00 to 18:00
Saturday, Sundays and public/bank holidays: Closed
Match days: 09:00 until half time.
Accessible Viewing Areas
The club reception is situation within the East Stand next to thehe Friends and Family seating in the North East and North West Quadrants allows wheelchair users the opportunity to sit with friends/family members.
All Executive Boxes are accessible to wheelchair users. All of the suites within the stadium are wheelchair accessible.
Whilst all seating within the stadium affords some cover from the overhead roofing, the club also provides waterproof capes during poor weather for disabled supporters.
Visiting disabled supporters have their own disabled platform in the South East corner of the stadium.
Radio headsets are available for blind or partially sighted supporters, which provide full match commentary to audio descriptive quality, and can be operated from anywhere within the stadium. These will need to be reserved in advance of the day of the game and can be done by contacting the accessibility team.
For any queries regarding accessible seating please contact our Disability Liaison Officer at accessibility@manutd.co.uk or call our Ticket Office on 0161 524 0211 who will be happy to provide you with further information regarding accessible seating options within the Old Trafford Stadium. Further information can be found at www.manutd.com/accessibility
Accessible Restrooms / Changing Rooms
Changing Places
Facility In addition to the accessible toilets available within the Stadium, on match days there is an accessible changing/toilet facility available which has been developed in consultation with the Changing Places campaign. Located in East Stand, close to the Ability Suite and in the West Stand Tier 2 concourse, this facility is fully accessible and in addition to toilet facilities incorporates a hoist for those who require it and changing facilities suitable for both adults and children.
The facilities can be accessed via RADAR key and a designated steward is present to ensure that individuals are comfortable when using the facilities and equipment.
Disabled Supporter Lounge
Ability Suite (AE1 Entrance)
Behind the accessible viewing platform there is a dedicated kiosk and match day lounge specifically for disabled supporters, both home and away. The Ability Suite has two entrances both measuring 900mm (35.5”). This is a designated match day lounge with full kiosk services; two large screen televisions and Wi-Fi connection. There are accessible toilet provisions within the Ability Suite and a full kiosk menu. Disabled supporters seated in this area are welcome to use the Ability Suite during both pre and post-match, with plenty of space and seating available to ensure your entrance and exit of the stadium is comfortable.
Disabled supporters using the AE2 Entrance in the East Stand Tunnel, have an accessible kiosk available to them (850mm in height) and accessible toilet provisions within the area. Measurements for the toilets are (2210mm x 1655mm) with the door width being (1010mm). These can be accessed via RADAR key and a designated Steward is present to ensure that individuals are able to access the toilets.
For disabled supporters seated within the North East and North West Level 7 viewing platforms, who are not in close proximity to the Ability Suite, there is an ‘at seat’ catering service provided. There are also suitable accessible toilet provisions within the area, finished with non-slip laminate flooring and all taps are lever operated, measurements for the toilets are 1180mm (46.5”) with the door width being 850mm (33.5”).
Braille menus are available in kiosk areas around the Stadium, and staff are happy to assist any supporters.
All kiosks now include an EPOS (electronic point of sale) system, meaning that card payments can be taken for any purchases.
There are Stewards available at all times in these areas to offer assistance where needed.
Club Store
The Manchester United Megastore is situated in the East Stand of the Stadium and is easily accessed from car park E2, Chester Road and Wharfside Way. There are steps on both the entrance and exit of the shop accompanied by ramps for wheelchair users and all have handrails. The Megastore has 6 entrance and 6 exit doors, each measuring 1630mm (64.5” wide), One entrance and one exit door is automatic.
There are three raised display areas within the store, most of the product lines displayed in these areas are however also available in other areas of the store. Staff offer personal assistance to all customers, which can be requested by visiting the Customer Service desk at the back of the store.
Here, there are also removable handheld payment machines which can be used by supporters who may struggle to use the till points. The shop has an accessible changing room suitable for wheelchair users; please note that due to the high volume of visitors all changing rooms are unavailable on match days.
An accessible toilet is available in store. Spot lighting is incorporated throughout.
Opening hours: Monday - Saturday: 10:00 to 18:00
Sunday: 11:00 to 17:00 (Open for browsing from 10:30)
The Megastore opening times vary on match days. The store closes during the game and then opens again for 1 hour after the final whistle. For all email enquiries relating to the Megastore please contact:
Stadium Tours / Museum
The club’s Museum & Stadium Tour is accessible and offers lift access to all floors and accessible toilets on the second and third floors. We have a small number of manual wheelchairs that can be hired from the ground floor reception of the Museum & Tour Centre (£10 returnable deposit).
The Stadium Tour can be altered to take into account accessible requirements, and we ask that visitors let us know at the point of booking if they require a more accessible route so that provisions can be put in place to ensure they can enjoy the best possible tour experience using the below contact details.
Assistance dogs are welcome in the museum and on the stadium tour. If you do wish to take an assistance dog on our, please let us know in advance so that we can make any appropriate arrangements.
Guided tours of the Museum for blind and partially sighted visitors can be arranged upon request, including a BSL interpreter.
A tour script is available for guests who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Museum & Stadium Tour Multimedia Guides are available in 9 languages and are free of charge for every visitor.
The Museum is open 7 days a week from
09:30 - 16:00 Sunday to Wednesday
09:30 - 17:00 Thursday to Saturday,
Home match days - closed
Tour times can change at short notice during some school holidays. The tour lasts approximately 70 minutes.
For any enquiries please contact the Museum team on: 0161 676 7770 or museum.enquiries@manutd.co.uk
Additional Information
Assistance Animals
Manchester United welcomes any disabled person using an assistance dog but we request advanced notification (in line with GDBA guidelines). We would request each owner considers all the implications of attending such a large stadium in respect of ensuring the safety and comfort of their dog. In the event you plan to bring an assistance dog, please notify us by emailing accessibility@manutd.co.uk
Prohibited Items
For everyone’s safety there is a list of items which you can/cannot bring into the stadium. Please check this list carefully before you travel. In particular, please note that large electronic devices (exceeding 150mm x 100mm dimensions) including laptops and tablets have now been added to the list of prohibited items for match days at Old Trafford as a result of the latest security advice. Personal medication can be brought into the stadium on both match and non-match days. If you need to bring medication or personal medical equipment with you on a match day please contact ourDisability Liaison Officer on 0161 524 0211 or email accessibility@manutd.co.uk in advance of the game.
Evacuation Procedure
Evacuation from the stadium on a match day is managed by the Head of Stadium Safety and Security, in line with the Safety Manual with every scenario dynamically covered. A bespoke evacuation procedure has been created for non-match day incidents with a team of Managers assigned to oversee the full or partial evacuation from the stadium. (Safety manuals are available for inspection if required).
Bag Policy
Manchester United takes the safety of our supporters extremely seriously. Working in partnership with key stakeholders including Greater Manchester Police, we constantly review our safety and security procedures to help ensure the safety of all supporters, visitors and staff at Old Trafford.
We have enhanced our searches of supporters at the turnstiles. This means that the searches may take longer and as a result it is likely that queues will also be longer however we do all we can to keep things moving. We have also restricted the size of bags allowed. Because of the above changes, we recommend the following so that you are able to get into the stadium before kick-off:
• Arrive at Old Trafford and get to your turnstile at least an hour before the start of the match (turnstiles will still open 2 hours before kick-off)
• Do not bring a bag larger than 20cm x 15cm x 5cm (8” x 6” x 2”) with you to the match; this equates to a small handbag
This policy does not apply to essential medical equipment or baby equipment.
If you have a health related need to bring equipment into the stadium then you are allowed to do so. For small items like medication, inhalers, epi-pens and blood sugar testing kits please bring these in as smalla bag as possible and please only bring those items essential for your healthcare to ensure searching your bag is as quick and easy as possible.
For any larger items like crutches, please email with details of the items to accessibility@manutd.co.uk and your entrance number so that we can ensure that security are aware in advance of the need to bring the items in. All items will be searched on entry to the stadium.
All bags will be searched and items larger than the size criteria must be left at one of the ‘Bag Drop’ facilities, which are located in E2 car park (including one specifically for away supporters), N2 car park, the back of W2 car park and one by the Manchester United Foundation building on Sir Matt Busby Way.
There is a £5 charge to leave an item with us in a ‘Bag Drop’, with all profits going to Manchester United Foundation to support their work using football to engage and inspire young people across Greater Manchester to create a better life for themselves and the communities in which they live.
‘Here To Help’ Booths
Our ‘Here to Help’ booths are located outside the stadium at the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand (North), East, South and West Stands. Please see a member of the Supporter Assistance Team or any of our stewards who will be on hand to help with directions or any issues you may have.
Cash Machines
There is a cash machine outside the East Stand near the Munich Tunnel. Other ATM machines can be found on Chester Road including the local Tesco store.g the items in. All items will be searched on entry to the stadium.
Contact Information
Address
Manchester United, Sir Matt Busby Way, Old Trafford Manchester M16 0RA
Telephone 0161 676 7770
Email enquiries@manutd.co.uk
Website www.manutd.com
Hours of operation:
Ticketing & Membership Services
Monday - Friday: 08:00 to 18:00
Saturday: 09:00 to 17:00
Sundays, public bank holidays: Closed (phone lines open)
Matchday: 09:00 until half time.
Manchester United Megastore:
Monday - Saturday: 09:30 to 18:00
Sunday: 11:00 to 17:00 (Open for browsing from 10:30)
The Megastore opening times vary on match days. The store closes during the game and then opens again for 1 hour after the final whistle. megastore@manutd.co.uk
Manchester United Museum:
The Museum is open 7 days a week from
09:30 - 16:00 Sunday to Wednesday
09:30 - 17:00 Thursday to Saturday,
Home match days - closed