Over 2,000 fans are expected to attend the ‘takeover’ event (Image: GETTY)
Thousands of fans without tickets to next week’s game against are set to attend a ‘takeover’ event near Old Trafford.
It will take place at Bowlers, a giant exhibition centre situated in Trafford Park which is less than three miles away from the stadium.
An online advert claims that over 2,000 attendees are expected, with the event featuring a live DJ and a ‘loyalist singer’. Marvin Andrews, who made 64 appearances for Rangers between 2004 and 2006, is billed as a ‘special guest’.
The event is also described as ‘family friendly’ with children and teenagers under the age of 18 welcome to attend. It will begin around five hours before kick-off, with the match at Old Trafford set to be shown live on a ‘massive super screen’.
The event will take place less than three miles away from Old Trafford (Image: GETTY)
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The gathering has been dubbed ‘Rangers Fanzone: Manchester Takeover’ and tickets have already sold out, according to event management platform . Parking has also been laid on with more than 300 spaces available for buses.
A statement on the website reads: “No tickets will be available to purchase on the door. This is a sold out ticketed event only. If you do not have a ticket please do not travel to the venue as you will be refused entry.”Back in 2008, a huge number of Rangers fans descended on Manchester for their meeting with Zenit in the UEFA Cup final, which was held at the Etihad Stadium.
Incidents of violence took place throughout the day, escalating into full-blown riots when a big screen erected in the city centre broke down.
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The troublemakers were a very small minority, with over 100,000 fans travelling to Manchester for the fixture. It was reported at the time that 42 arrests were made, including six people who were held after a Zenit fan was stabbed inside the stadium.
A judge later described what unfolded as ‘the worst night of violence and destruction suffered by centre since the Blitz’.
Rangers were given an allocation of 3,768 tickets for their upcoming game against United, with the away end sold out. They asked for more tickets but their request was turned down by the Red Devils.
The two clubs last played each other in 2010, when they were drawn in the same Champions League group. The first match at Old Trafford ended in a goalless draw, with United winning the reverse fixture at Ibrox thanks to a Wayne Rooney penalty.