Manchester United’s Old Trafford is one of the most iconic football (or soccer, to you Americans) stadiums in the sport’s history, and its hallowed turf has played host to some of the club’s most pivotal moments.
Now, Marriott Bonvoy is teaming up with Manchester United and legendary player Gary Neville to offer one lucky winner a once-in-a-lifetime overnight stay inside Old Trafford — and the chance to kick it with Neville himself.
“Win, lose or draw for Manchester United, coming to Old Trafford is a special experience,” Neville told TPG, adding that it changed his life from the age of 5. “I’ve never known anybody [to] step into Old Trafford to watch a football match, whether they’re the fan of the opposing team or whether [a] fan of Manchester United — whether they’re not even a football fan at all — that isn’t mesmerized by the scale, the atmosphere, the passion, the feeling of being in that stadium. It’s amazing.”
Having played over the course of a storied career with Manchester United, including serving as captain for five years, it’s safe to say that few people understand the power of the stadium quite like Neville does. This is exactly why the club teamed up with Marriott Bonvoy to transform the stadium’s Suite of Dreams into “The Captiain’s Suite,” a club-suite-turned-hotel-room celebrating Neville’s 600-plus match career with Manchester United.
Now, one lucky Manchester United fan (and a guest) will have the chance to win a one-night stay in the suite ahead of a Manchester United and Manchester City match in April. The winner will also get the chance to sit down with Neville to discuss the memorabilia and memories in the suite, tour the stadium and its museum, and watch the football match dubbed a Manchester Derby.
The winner should expect “an absolutely amazing experience,” Neville told TPG, noting that he felt “quite proud” seeing the suite honoring his many accomplishments and decorated with iconic trophies, memorabilia and photos, from a program of his very first Manchester United game to the iconic image of Neville kissing the club’s badge after a last-minute win against Liverpool.
The suite also hits a sentimental chord by displaying a photo of his biggest fans: his parents.
“It’s not a piece of memorabilia, but obviously my dad and my mom watched me every single match for United,” explained Neville, whose dad passed away nearly 10 years ago. He added that he hopes people who see the photo will think about their own family and reflect on how important family is.
The suite is also loaded with DVDs and books full of Manchester United memories, a collection of Neville’s favorite vinyl records and a slew of his favorite treats and snacks, including Jaffa Cakes, a spongey cake with orange jam and chocolate.
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“Jaffa Cakes have followed me throughout,” Neville said. “As football players, we always had these as our snacks in the dressing room and the training ground. It’s still my favorite thing to this day.
“If I was a fan when I was younger and someone said to me, ‘go to Old Trafford and sleep in the stadium the night before a game,’ I’d be like, wow, this is a real, is it.”
But rest assured, it is real. Marriott Bonvoy members can enter to win a Captain’s Suite stay by visiting the Manchester United website. (Just make sure you register for a free Marriott Bonvoy loyalty account.)
Even if you don’t win the chance to spend the night at Old Trafford, Neville doesn’t want you to miss out on visiting Manchester, England.
“It’s one of the greatest cities for sport, for music, for culture, for art, for nightlife,” the former Manchester United captain said. “I think it’s a great city. It’s a vibrant city, and people should definitely try and come if you can.”
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