Manchester United could lose staging rights for the Super League Grand Final to Manchester City due to the poor state of Old Trafford and uncertainty over the club’s plans for a rebuild.
The climax of the rugby league season has been staged at Old Trafford since the inaugural Grand Final in 1998, with the exception of the behind-closed-doors Covid final in 2020 which was held in Hull, but United’s contract to stage the event expires next year and it is unclear whether it will be renewed.
The Rugby Football League have a good relationship with United and would welcome talks over extending their deal, but the club’s need to upgrade Old Trafford has led them to consider potential alternatives, with the Etihad Stadium emerging as a potential contender.