Theater of Dreams

I had this goal since I was 9.

That was to step my foot at Old Trafford one day.

It’s been a long 17-year wait to finally get there last week. And I felt really, really good and excited as though I was still 9 (too bad I’m not!). If you’re not a big time or 17 years Manchester United fan, then being at Old Trafford is just like it’s another stadium or another tourist destination.

I’ve been to other grounds (Hertha Berlin’s Olympiastadion and Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena) before, but what I felt there were nowhere near what it was at Old Trafford.

Old Trafford was different.

It’s the ground the club I supported since I was 9 plays. I’ve been seeing it in magazines and TV for the past 17 years and didn’t get to go there until recently.

For a mere 12 pounds, I get to visit the museum (talk about that later), players’ changing room, players’ lounge, walk out of the famous tunnel, sit at the dugouts, see where the WAGS sit on match days, walk along the pitch and see Stretford End, where the most loyal supporters sit on match days.

Things could even get better, but this time it didn’t. It’s okay.

It would be even better if I could catch a match there, but that didn’t happen. It’s almost impossible to get a ticket for a Premier League or Champions League match at Old Trafford nowadays unless you’re a season ticket holder or you buy the hospitality package which starts from 299 pounds.

Another option is to buy from outside the ground on match day for prices up to 5 times the original price with the risk of getting a fake ticket.

Only tickets for low profile matches like Carling Cup will reach General Sales. Other tickets are usually sold out before it even reach General Sales.

So, the next goal (as far as Manchester United is concerned) is to watch a match there!