Man Utd could rename Old Trafford as club sponsor 'working closely' on £2bn rebuild

Snapdragon, Manchester United’s new front-of-shirt sponsor, have expressed their interest in securing naming rights for Old Trafford to help fund a £2billion rebuild. Renaming the iconic stadium is among Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s several options to raise finance for the ambitious project, which he prefers over a redevelopment of the current structure.

Snapdragon – who make the chips or processors found in an estimated three billion devices worldwide – struck a three-year shirt sponsorship agreement worth around £176m in July, replacing TeamViewer.

Don McGuire, chief marketing officer of Snapdragon’s parent company Qualcomm, has confirmed there is an eagerness to expand their involvement if the opportunity arises.

“Old Trafford is Old Trafford, it should always be Old Trafford,” McGuire explained at San Diego’s Snapdragon Stadium, where United have played a pre-season match twice in the last two years.

“But if there is a brand attached to that in some way, shape, or form, powered by someone, an ‘at’ or whatever — this is Snapdragon Stadium at Bashor Field.

“We are working very closely with the team on the reimagining of Old Trafford from a technology and innovation standpoint, and Carrington.

“So if that leads to something bigger, where it would make sense for us to go even bigger — this [the shirt sponsorship] is pretty big by the way, not inexpensive — but if it makes sense, we are always looking out for opportunities.”

According to The Athletic, a United party – including Sir Dave Brailsford, Omar Berrada, Dan Ashworth and Jason Wilcox – visited Snapdragon’s San Diego headquarters this summer to hold talks.

“Fan experiences, connectivity, stadium operations like retail, point of sale, ticket in and out,” McGuire listed as he provided examples of how Snapdragon would elevate the experience at a new stadium.

“Then there is how fans can be engaged while in the stadium, whether through augmented reality or through their smartphones or devices. And then making United a more state-of-the-art club.”

McGuire also expanded on the company’s involvement in the current £50m redevelopment of Carrington, which is due to be completed by the end of the season.

United are expected to confirm a decision on whether they will move forward with plans for a £2bn new stadium or a redevelopment of Old Trafford – likely half the cost – by the end of the year.

If a rebuild is the path taken, Snapdragon won’t be the only mainstream company interested in naming rights.