Man United in financial despair – Now you can buy piece of Old Trafford

Manchester United are continuing to explore new ways of generating income. Despite recording a club-record turnover of roughly €790 million during the last financial year, the English giants still reported a loss of around €50 million, marking their seventh consecutive year in the red.

The club has now come up with an unusual way to turn a piece of Old Trafford history into a commercial opportunity.

The iconic stadium underwent a complete replacement of its playing surface this summer, the first such overhaul in 14 years. Rather than simply throwing away the old turf, United preserved it and transformed the grass into a series of small collector’s items, with the blades sealed inside 7×7-centimeter acrylic cubes.

The souvenirs were initially made available to club members and season ticket holders through the official fan shop. Each piece comes presented in a black box featuring a photograph of Old Trafford and is priced at €145.

For what amounts to a tiny piece of grass, the price is certainly substantial. United have yet to disclose how many cubes were produced, although the potential scale of the project is significant. Considering the club’s debts exceed £1 billion, however, even a successful sales campaign would represent only a relatively small contribution to its finances.

The mathematics are particularly striking. If the entire Old Trafford pitch were cut into 7×7-centimeter sections, it would theoretically produce around 1.45 million cubes. At €145 apiece, that would translate into potential gross revenue of more than €215 million.

The idea has predictably divided supporters online. Some have welcomed the opportunity to own a tangible piece of the “Theatre of Dreams,” while others see the €145 price tag as little more than an attempt to squeeze more money out of the fanbase.

Manchester United are not the first major club to turn their old turf into memorabilia, either. Barcelona and Arsenal have previously offered pieces of their former pitches as souvenirs to supporters.…Read more by