Manchester United have announced the extension of ‘safe standing’ at Old Trafford, with more rail seats set to be installed in the Stretford End.
There’s been a slight upturn in the mood around Man United over the last few days, at least in the immediate aftermath of their tense win against Chelsea in the Premier League this past Sunday.
On top of a crucial three points for the head coach, Ruben Amorim, senior management has now revealed the next steps for the safe standing section of the Theatre of Dreams’ liveliest stand.
Confirming the plans on Tuesday, 23 September, INEOS and the executive board have green-lit the further extension of the safe standing provision in the home ground, which could see more than 7,500 rail seats in total.
Work has begun to expand our safe standing section at Old Trafford 🏟️
As detailed in an update on the club website, Manchester United have now begun a “significant expansion” of their rail seating facilities, with an estimated 6,000 additional safe standing seats now set to be installed in the second tier of the Stretford End.
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The statement goes on to read: “The project will double the current provision of rail seats inside the stadium, making Old Trafford one of the Premier League’s leading venues for safe standing.
“The first phase of seats will be in place for the upcoming fixture against Sunderland. However, the section will remain licensed as seated for that game until the installation is completed and formally approved by the Sports Grounds Safety Authority (SGSA).
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“The club expects the installation work to be finished by the end of October, though formal approval from the SGSA to use the area as safe standing may follow at a later date.
“This latest development reflects the club’s ongoing investment in enhancing the matchday experience, with safe standing widely recognised for boosting atmosphere while also improving safety.
Although the Red Devils are aiming to move into a brand new stadium within the next half a decade or so, these will no doubt be welcome changes among an otherwise divided fan base.
While they won’t be in their iconic sporting arena forever, supporters have been calling for more safe standing and rail seating year after year, with the last expansion approved back in 2023.
The advent has been gradually making its way back into the game here in England over the best part of a decade now, with many backing the push in the ground to improve the overall fan experience.
That being said, with the changes set to be brought in for their next home game early next month, and the introduction of more flags, as well as even tifos and pyrotechnics, plenty of figures (both inside and out of the club) are trying to make it a top-tier football destination once again.
Premier League Darts is returning to Manchester’s AO Arena in 2027
Lydia Mastrolonardo
Premier League Darts is confirmed to be returning to Manchester next year.
Now’s your chance to see the youngest world champion in darts history, AKA Warrington’s very-own Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler, show us how it’s done, as next year’s BetMGM Premier League Darts lineup has just been announced this week – with various dates confirmed across 17 different cities in the UK and Europe.
And Manchester is one of those cities, as the AO Arena has shared that they are set to host an evening next April, and we couldn’t be more excited about it.
This means that we will be lucky enough to witness the biggest names in world darts all under one roof, including headliners Gian van Veen and Luke Humphries, as well as Littler.
Manchester is the only northern city to get the pleasure of hosting the event next year, as Liverpool is also on the lineup, as is Leeds, Sheffield, and Newcastle, while elsewhere in the UK, the stars will travel to Glasgow, Birmingham, London, and several other major locations.
BetMGM Premier League Darts is to be held on Thursday 8 April at the AO Arena in Manchester, and to avoid being disappointed, fans are advised to register for presale ticket access.
Following a successful season of events in 2026, tickets are expected to be like gold-dust, so don’t say you haven’t been warned.
To access the first wave of tickets, fans must become an active PDCTV Annual Member before 23:59pm on Friday 9 October. Alternatively, general sale is on Thursday 22 October 2026, but make sure not to hang about.
Featured Image – Sandro Halank (via Wikimedia Commons)
Sport
Andy Burnham wants to scrap the ‘unfair’ ban on drinking alcohol in football stands
Emily Sergeant
Andy Burnham has claimed he wants to scrap the ‘unfair’ ban on fans getting to drink alcohol in football stands.
It’s a ban that’s been in place in the top five tiers of men’s football since 1985, when fears over violence and hooliganism were at their height, but now the Prime Minister has raised the question of whether drinking in football stands – or ‘drinking in sight / view of the pitch’, as it’s known formally – is actually unjust, due to the fact that same rules don’t apply to fans of other sports.
“I don’t think it’s fair for football fans to be singled out in that way,” Andy Burnham has declared this week, grabbing headlines in the process.
He continued: “I think that legislation dates to an era where football was very different, and I do believe there is a case to remove that discrimination.
“I’m not going to back away from what’s been a long-held view of mine. I don’t see how it can be fair that some supporters of one sport can be treated differently.”
The Prime Minister’s comments have been met with mixed response.
Andy Burnham wants to scrap the ‘unfair’ ban on drinking alcohol in football stands / Credit: James Kirkup | Julia Nastogadka (via Unsplash)
The Football Supporters’ Association (FSA), for example, has very much welcomed the idea, saying that it ‘totally agrees’ the legislation is ‘outdated’ and ‘deserves to be reviewed’.
Tom Greatrex, chair of the FSA, said in a statement: “The FSA has always argued that it’s unfair to criminalise football fans for having a pint while watching the match – especially since you can sit in the same seat drinking alcohol whilst watching an Oasis gig or rugby league.”
However, on the flip side, the UK Football Policing Unit said it would be ‘incredibly rash’ to change the rules without proper consultation.
“Other sports simply don’t see the violence and criminal behaviour from their supporters that football does, albeit a minority, with alcohol often playing a significant part in violent and disorderly behaviour,” it said in a statement on the matter.
The Prime Minister did state in his initial proposition though that ‘there are different ways it could be done’, hinting that it could be done ‘on a trial basis’ perhaps.
The English Football League (EFL) added that it would be ‘receptive to discussions around reviewing current legislation and permitting alcoholic drinks within view of the pitch’.
No formal details on a review have been confirmed as of yet, so fans are encouraged to stay tuned for updates in due course.
Danny Jones -
23rd September 2025 
