Review: 10272 Old Trafford - Manchester United
Posted by CapnRex101,
Manchester United F.C. was established during 1878 and maintains extraordinary international popularity. Old Trafford also boasts remarkable renown, hosting countless prestigious matches through the labyrinthine history of Manchester United and English football.
10272 Old Trafford - Manchester United seems accordingly interesting, particularly since LEGO has not produced any realistic stadia before now. The model appears exceptionally detailed in official images and demonstrates brilliant accuracy when compared with its source material, deviating significantly from previous sets.
Box and Contents
Promotional material surrounding 10272 Old Trafford - Manchester United has focused primarily upon adults and its packaging targets the same audience. The dark colour scheme looks nice and presents this model effectively, although I think the footballing theme offered potential for something even more distinctive since black box designs are relatively common.
The box contains 27 numbered bags with an enormous instruction manual, including 368 pages. The first several pages are dedicated to information about both Manchester United and Old Trafford which is wonderful and the timeline is perfectly illustrated with photos from throughout their history. However, additional comments from Mike Psiaki, the set designer, would have been appreciated.
Unfortunately, this model also requires a substantial sheet of 72 stickers. Printed components would have been preferable, particularly for the advertising hoardings where twelve identical stickers appear, but the others are remarkably varied. On that basis, expecting printed parts is not necessarily realistic here and these stickers are easy to apply.
Construction
Old Trafford comprises several large sections, beginning with the pitch. This structure is extremely simple, relying primarily upon five printed tiles which are situated across a rigid frame. That solution seems effective but I had anticipated something more innovative. Nevertheless, there are some nice pieces here as the 2x4 tiles and 2x2 triangular tiles are both new in bright green.
Construction becomes significantly more interesting as the East Stand is assembled. Technic bricks provide adequate support to this building and some unusual 1x8 slopes are positioned on either side, returning from 10767 Duke Caboom's Stunt Show. Several brackets are fixed across the internal wall alongside three conspicuous bars that are visible below.
Their purpose quickly becomes apparent as the tiered seating is attached. These seats are designed using 1x2 grille bricks which are connected sideways and decorated with multiple stickers, replicating their actual appearance quite effectively. Exactly the same technique appears prominently throughout this whole set and 345 red grille bricks are therefore distributed across the stadium.
However, my favourite aspect of the narrower stands are their roofs. Once again, they are attached sideways and the designer has made realistic use of cantilever supports which correspond precisely with the original structure! Removing the white beams will not cause the roof to collapse because it is relatively light, although the roof does sag without them.
After completing the East Stand, attention moves to the similar Stretford End which features many of the same building techniques, as one might expect. However, the external design is different and that mitigates the potential repetition to some degree. I also appreciate the colour variation, corresponding with the differing construction materials which appear on these stands in reality.
Once again, some colourful brackets are visible here, although they are eventually concealed by the seating. Both stands are then connected to the pitch using Technic pins, giving an impression of how large the stadium will eventually become. Assembling the model in sections was certainly sensible as they can be separated easily for transportation.
Technic elements are also integral to the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand. This substantial structure exhibits various techniques which comprise the narrower stands, although the rounded corners are distinctive and make excellent use of hinge plates. Moreover, I like how the entrance has been assembled using two different brackets, exploiting the depth of the base to present a smooth surface.
Construction becomes increasingly elaborate at each corner. Trans-light blue 1x2 bricks are stacked around the exterior and another layer is placed inside, displaying numerous exposed studs which are subsequently covered with seating. Assembling this interesting shape in three layers is ingenious and the structure feels remarkably robust as two Technic axles connect the external wall to the core.
Exactly the same structure occupies the opposite corner before two enormous banks of seating are attached. The angled sections appear particularly inventive as they are assembled in three separate directions. While the lower tier is constructed with its studs facing towards the pitch, each upper level incorporates two halves which are fixed sideways with opposing orientations.
Another substantial roof protects these seats and includes three large panels. The central section is relatively basic and connects to four hinges behind the seating while the curved panels on either side rest upon the stadium walls. This assembly is much heavier than those above the narrower stands so the cantilevers provide surprisingly little support, although the roof remains secure.
The final stand seems reasonably similar to its larger counterpart as the base is assembled, making further use of Technic elements which are hidden behind black bricks and light bluish grey tiles. This does become somewhat repetitive, although building the stadium in sections separates the repeated techniques. Furthermore, the medium nougat and red panels which are fitted around the corners are interesting as they slot together neatly.
Additional rows of seats are positioned inside the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand before the roof is placed over the top. Contrasting with the other structures, this roof is attached horizontally. Its construction is comparatively elaborate though, including numerous 1x1 brackets which link the curved panels to that in the centre. They also feature a new 1x4x2 2/3 curved brick that slots inside 1x1x3 1/3 arch bricks.
Finally, the large stands are united with the remainder of this stadium. They are attached using blue Technic axle pins so can be disconnected easily, contrasting with the narrower stands that rely upon standard Technic pins instead. Joining these sections and completing the stadium is rather satisfying, although the instruction manual actually concludes with the United Trinity statue.
The Completed Model
Old Trafford is internationally renowned and this rendition of the stadium looks fantastic. The intricate stanchions and bright red seats certainly stand out, although the model measures 45cm wide and 39cm deep so is slightly smaller than I had envisaged. Moreover, its proportions have been exaggerated as the stands should appear significantly shorter but I think this design looks more impressive on display.
Statues of three historic Manchester United players are displayed outside the stadium. George Best, Denis Law and Sir Bobby Charlton each made important contributions to Manchester United winning the European Cup during 1968, hence their esteemed moniker of the United Trinity. This statue looks good when compared with its source material but is disconnected from the focal model, unfortunately.
Another statue is displayed above the entrance to the East Stand, representing Sir Matt Busby who successfully managed Manchester United for a quarter of a century! This tiny figure looks wonderful against the surrounding trans-light blue windows and the dark bluish grey walls seem quite accurate too, especially in combination with the medium nougat bricks at their base.
Medium nougat pieces also decorate the side of the East Stand, alongside two stickers. They exhibit brilliant detail, featuring several windows above a plaque that commemorates the Munich air disaster. Numerous players, club staff and journalists lost their lives during this tragic incident which took place on the 6th of February 1958. The famous Munich Clock is also dedicated to the victims and both faces display 3:04pm, reflecting the time of the crash.
The clock is cleverly constructed using a 1x1 corner panel so closely resembles the actual timepiece. Additional trans-light blue windows appear outside the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand and they seem quite accurate, most notably around the angled corner. This building houses executive suites and television studios, although no internal details are represented here.
White slopes generate interesting texture across the exterior of this building, loosely resembling the original structure. However, the design has been simplified as various air conditioning units are fixed here in reality. The exposed studs beside the roof should have been covered in my opinion, although the printed doorways around the corner look excellent. The miniature team bus is a pleasing addition as well and fits securely on two studs.
Several additional red doors are situated beneath the Stretford End, behind four white supports. I like how these have been integrated and their consistency with the roof stanchions which are prominently visible here. The stacked dark bluish grey 1x2 grille bricks also look realistic, matching the corrugated appearance of these walls on Old Trafford.
Trans-light blue 1x2 bricks dominate the northern corners of Old Trafford, representing its panoramic windows which look magnificent. These elements contrast with the surrounding white structure which seems attractive on this model, although its actual colour is closer to pale grey. LEGO's colour palette does not include an ideal shade but the shaping is great and I love the white columns around the base.
Sir Alex Ferguson managed Manchester United between 1986 and 2013, winning thirteen Premier League trophies, five FA cups and two Champions League titles during that period. The huge North Stand was therefore renamed after Sir Alex Ferguson in 2011 and displays his likeness between the entrances. This façade looks relatively simple but the trans-black windows are perfect.
Furthermore, I like the narrow windows which are positioned between columns while the consistent integration of 1x2 grille bricks is equally effective. The signage fixed on the exterior seems authentic and the neighbouring light bluish grey supports look superb, faithfully replicating the industrial design aesthetic that often influences older football stadia.
Light bluish grey cantilevers continue above the roof, connecting to several 1x2 clips along its edge. Twelve beams are present here, falling short of the sixteen trusses which appear in reality. However, this structure certainly looks impressive and I appreciate its contrast with the roof underneath. There are some awkward colours though as two light bluish grey 1x2 bricks with bars remain exposed.
While the perpendicular roofs are connected to their respective supports, the corner stanchions rest upon the curved roof panels instead. Nevertheless, their shape appears reasonably accurate and the correct number of supports are included. The glass sections of the roof are also appealing, integrating lovely 1x10x3 trans-clear windscreens. However, the glass panel on the largest roof is slightly too wide.
Red seating dominates the interior and looks brilliant, particularly in combination with the white bands that represent staircases. These bright colours certainly stand out, appearing clearly through the trans-clear roof panels and complementing red highlights across the exterior. Several stickers are applied on the tiles that divide different seating areas and these correspond exactly with the actual stadium.
Many more stickers decorate the seats. The black streaks across these stickers appear slightly too broad in my opinion, although I appreciate the attempt to match the grille bricks. Using those pieces throughout this model is ingenious and the resultant texture seems very realistic. However, that does not remain completely consistent around the corners where smooth bricks are more prevalent.
Such issues are effectively concealed though and I think the tiered seating looks fantastic, especially when viewed from the pitch! The uppermost level becomes visible here and the aforementioned trans-clear roof panels also provide an excellent view of the third tier. Once again, these stickers are superb and I like the black advertising hoardings which stand out around the edge of the pitch.
Dark bluish grey 1x3 panels appear in each corner, contrasting with the black 1x4 panels. Consistent colours would definitely have been more suitable but these panels are not currently available in black. Furthermore, the curved seating in each corner appears too angular. Accurately recreating its shallow curve would have been exceptionally difficult but the angled letters are disappointing.
Identifying stickers are positioned along the edge of each roof, although the small Adidas logo which should appear above the East Stand is omitted. The banners around the stands are wonderful though, paying further tribute to victims of the Munich air disaster. Another sticker reads '20 LEGEND' so makes reference to the current manager of Manchester United, Ole Gunnar Solskjær, who wore the number twenty while playing for the club.
Another celebrated player lends their name to the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand. This structure is shorter than others but incorporates some of the most important details. These include the elegant roof along with two scoreboards that display a score of 3-0 to Manchester United. In addition, the original players' tunnel is depicted by a white 1x1 headlight brick while the modern tunnel is situated in the corner.
Two crests belonging to Manchester United flank the tunnel and these medium nougat structures are intended to represent the dugouts. They slot beautifully between the seats and their distinctive colour seems authentic when compared with the actual stadium. Moreover, I love how the television camera gantries are included. The shape of the surrounding glass is not perfect but this feature demonstrates outstanding attention to detail.
Five printed tiles constitute the pitch, featuring an interesting pattern beside the requisite white lines. Relying so considerably upon enormous printed tiles is unfortunate, although I think constructing the pitch using alternative methods would be almost impossible and it looks magnificent. The chequered design and white lines seem completely authentic.
Additional printed components form the goals at both ends of the pitch. These are nicely represented by 1x2 corner panels that are fixed sideways to the studs underneath, thereby forming an open space at the front. I appreciate the printed net design too. This decoration does not continue across the sides which is somewhat disappointing, although I think the goals remain sufficiently realistic.
Overall
10272 Old Trafford - Manchester United diverges dramatically from anything that LEGO has released previously and looks spectacular on display. This model compares favourably with its source material and certain deviations, such as the enlarged height of each stand in relation to their respective widths, improve its appearance. Furthermore, the low relative height of the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand provides an excellent view of the pitch and the surrounding seats.
However, constructing the model at this scale has inevitably entailed compromises. The shape of the seating around each corner is unrealistic and the cantilever trusses have been simplified considerably. Nevertheless, I believe the price of £249.99 or $299.99 feels quite reasonable and the stadium remains extraordinarily detailed, despite its comparatively compact structure.
I hope you have found this review informative. Let us know by liking this article and share your opinion of the set in the comments below.
This set was provided for review by The LEGO Group but the review is an expression of my own opinions.
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77 comments on this article
Amazing. I’m a United fan myself and I agree with the sticker situation but I’m not too bothered about them on builds other than Star Wars or Ninjago. The United Trinity look really cool using the micro figures. The price is astronomical though and then there’s the problem with size... looks great though and would be on my must-buy list... if I was an adult with a job and a very large basement!
As a Manchester United fan I like the structure and detail but there are far too many stickers, I also think it should of included OGS or one of the players!!
I do hope to see a lego Wembley or The Santiago Bernabeau in the future...
Looks like a lovely build. But if you’re not a Man Utd fan, it might be considered traitorship (is that a word? or betrayal then) to buy this haha. And 72 stickers, needing to be aligned perfectly?! That sounds like utter torture.
Looks fab, and unlike any set we've seen before.
Being from Newcastle and not liking football, and having a backlog of other sets on my list, I'll give this a miss. But I imagine some people will love it.
Lovely model but I refuse to support any of the big six Premier League teams, or anyone in the Champions League.
They've got enough money as is. Support local grassroots football, support non-league football.
EDIT; also, imagine shelling out this much money for a premium set and getting slapped with 72 stickers. Deary me LEGO and MUFC, would it really have hurt the bottom line that much to do more prints?
Photography is really good. Review solid as usual.
I am torn as usual on sets like these if for no other reason than the usual feelings that come up when building any Architecture set. Lots of smaller pieces that simulate a larger structure. If I’m in the right headspace I can get into it, and then it’s really cool. Wrong headspace and not so much. A great model can change the headspace significantly. Like, say...the Flatiron Building which I had a connection to, or the Solomon Museum.
I could get into a build like this if the stadium were of a team I loved. If that ever happens I’m in. I’ve seen alternate brand stuff all over, not interested. But if LEGO ever makes anything from here in the US, I’ll be giving it a serious look.
Having said all that, the set itself clearly looks great and was a passion project, no doubt.
Very good and thorough review! As somebody who is mostly unfamiliar with the original subject matter I greatly appreciated the context for each feature as well as the assessments of how closely they resemble the actual stadium.
I doubt I'll get this set as I have no real love for either the stadium, the team, or the sport, but it is certainly impressive and it's neat to see the Creator Expert line branching out from its more typical architectural subject matter. I also recently saw images from somebody who had rigged it with LED lighting and it was quite astounding how impressive it looked with the pitch lit like it would be in real life!
For display pieces I tend not to use the stickers, as unless they are done in perfection it annoys me too much, looking at it and thinking that’s wrong..
And this as a display price without the stickers doesn’t work..
When will LEGO get the message that we want printed pieces.. even if the cost is slightly higher..
Could part of the reason it has so many stickers be because neutral people can leave it has a neutral stadium?
I would love to see this become the first of many stadiums LEGO makes. Kind of like the Modular Buildings.
Looks lovely, but I just can't justify that price given my lack of interest in football; the only team in red that I support is Ferrari!
@Fireheart said:
"For display pieces I tend not to use the stickers, as unless they are done in perfection it annoys me too much, looking at it and thinking that’s wrong..
And this as a display price without the stickers doesn’t work..
LEGO designers have a specific number of new and/or printed parts they can use per set. I think 98% of the parts in a set must be previously existing.
When will LEGO get the message that we want printed pieces.. even if the cost is slightly higher.."
As someone who hasn't got a clue about this stadium I very much appreciate the description of all the details, makes it much more interesting. One thing you didn't mention are the trans black 1x2 tiles above the lower tiers, I guess these represent some kind of VIP boxes etc?
Also very much appreciate all the photos, capturing just about everything. (Just wish the resolution was a bit higher, making it possible to "zoom in" the details a bit more. Some photos of the real thing to compare with would be great too, but I suppose it may be an issue with copyright.)
Very impressive set indeed, I especially like those bar/clip/etc structures that are attached to the roofs.
What is point of huge set like this? I never understood the hype. Too big and hard to clean makes it weak display piece.
Good review thougg. I love new windows!
@Mr_Thrawn said:
"LEGO designers have a specific number of new and/or printed parts they can use per set. I think 98% of the parts in a set must be previously existing."
I don't think that this number is entirely correct (consider, for example, 10265), but I can understand that the stickers are an issue for many people.
Soccer is lame! I want stadiums from a real sport, like football.
It does look fantastic, but it has zero emotional appeal.
@Sneakysneaker said:
"Soccer is lame! I want stadiums from a real sport, like football."
Oh the irony of this comment....
This looks amazing though, even from someone like me who is not into any sport. Probably won't get it, but the designers sure did a good job with it.
"Unfortunately, this model also requires a substantial sheet of 72 stickers. Printed components would have been preferable, particularly for the advertising hoardings where twelve identical stickers appear, but the others are remarkably varied. On that basis, expecting printed parts is not necessarily realistic here and these stickers are easy to apply."
Stop defending the indefensible. 72 stickers in a premium product costing £250! Where will you draw the line? 100? 200? 1,000?
@Crow_T__Robot said:
" @Sneakysneaker said:
"Soccer is lame! I want stadiums from a real sport, like football."
Oh the irony of this comment....
This looks amazing though, even from someone like me who is not into any sport. Probably won't get it, but the designers sure did a good job with it."
He must be referring to the US version but I appreciate both sports. This is a beast of a set but I have to buy UCS Millenium Falcon first.
@LukeSkywalker said:
"Looks like a lovely build. But if you’re not a Man Utd fan, it might be considered traitorship (is that a word? or betrayal then) to buy this haha. And 72 stickers, needing to be aligned perfectly?! That sounds like utter torture."
Not for us A. C. Milan fans. We won our 6th Champions League cup in 2003 against Juventus there, so it is a sweet memory and a good reason to own it! ;)
I am very undecided about this set. As many comments above there is not attachment to this set very all the above mentioned reasons. I love tiger builds and this looks great and am sure it would be fun to build.
I think I wish Lego would stick to Creator Expert sets that people the world over could enjoy and somehow feel a connection to. Of course I imagine there are others that would say the same about some of the other sets LEGO have built.
So enjoy soccer fans.....I will just have to wait and see what else comes up in the line later this year.
just a question. The 1x10x3 clear windscreen is new? Or did it appear somewhere else?
Should come with a free Mo Salah MiniFig just to rub some salt in...
I have to throw my 2 cents in here. I am not a big fan of soccer but I am a fan of college American football. I have no attachment with the UK other then a couple of short visits. However I am a big fan of the build! The set is awesome I am halfway through and it has been a blast to build so far.
Stickers don't bother me much. It just takes a bit of time learning how to put them on and to center them. Then I can tear apart the set and reuse the parts and peel off the sticker.
As a fan of Lego this is such a unique set and build no need to be a fan of soccer. If American don't put on the stickers draw a few more whit lines and put up some goal posts and there you have it!
A very good model with some interesting building techniques!
I would love to see a series of famous football stadia produced like this. You don't need to be a football fan to enjoy the architecture.
As a Liverpool supporter, I'd just like the printed pitch tiles and goals to try to make Anfield. Maybe set up a microfigure statue of Ferguson just to knock it off its perch!
We're on the review of the set and still a lot of people from the US complaining of a set based upon a landmark that isn't from there, oh my...
Fantastic set, even though I don't like MU that much, the design looks very neat compared to the source. The parts are great too, would love to know about possible new parts introduced with it.
@aleydita - I am treating the set realistically, taking LEGO's current decisions concerning printed elements and stickers into consideration. The quantity of stickers is significant but their variety is even more important and this set includes 47 unique stickers. On that basis, expecting them to be printed is not realistic, as described in the review.
For example, 10241-1 Maersk Line Triple-E contains 108 identical stickers which are applied to cargo containers. That is an obvious situation where printed components would be more appropriate and the containers should have been designed accordingly.
Of course, LEGO might choose to produce more printed pieces in the future. I certainly hope they will, in which case my expectations for printed elements will be increased.
Has anybody mentioned in what scale this set has been designed?
@dingbat591 : According to the press release it's 1:600.
@LukeSkywalker said:
"Looks like a lovely build. But if you’re not a Man Utd fan, it might be considered traitorship (is that a word?"
Treachery
As cool as the finished stadium looks I had forgotten how horribly cheap those new milky window pieces look. Can't even call this trans-clear anymore imho.
I have sets by Chinese brands that used to be known for their cheap pieces that now have better looking trans-clear elements.
I'm not a Soccer fan, but I really like what Lego has done here. The sectioned approach to the build is simple but brilliant and gives you an easy way to peel away layers to see inside. I hope this will lead to more stadium sets, maybe even its own subtheme of Architecture or Creator. I would love to see some baseball and American football stadiums, as there are a lot of unique and iconic stadiums in America. Lambeau Field, Wrigley Field, Fenway Park, the Rose Bowl, etc.
Cool set, but...
I just scraped up enough money to purchase the Liebherr, Defender, Tree house and Apocalypseburg, so I'm broke this year and have to let this one go...
"The quantity of stickers is significant but their variety is even more important and this set includes 47 unique stickers. On that basis, expecting them to be printed is not realistic, as described in the review."
Why? That's an opinion based on what? Lego's established strategy? So you're defending the continuation of a bad strategy simply because it already exists.
We all accept that sticker sheets are cheaper than printed designs, but the difference must be negligible when producing tens of thousands of sets.
@BricklingUK said:
"Should come with a free Mo Salah MiniFig just to rub some salt in..."
Apparently the reason it doesn't come with the Man U squad is because they were all injured during the brain-storming session for their latest list of excuses.
Perhaps LEGO should look at their corporate values a little closer. They don't do religion, politics, et cetera (supposedly, but we all know that's poppycock) but perhaps they should steer clear of the greatest of all religions: Football. Y'know, just to avoid the inevitable controversy.
I have to say, it's an impressive build, but as a Liverpool fan I could never, ever buy this. Not even heavily discounted. But for an Anfield MOC ... well, I might just have to pick up those printed pitch plates somewhere!
I feel like I have to ask an obvious question. How on Earth do you apply a sticker to the front of a grill brick?
@Zordboy said:
"I feel like I have to ask an obvious question. How on Earth do you apply a sticker to the front of a grill brick?"
Carefully
Im mostly just excited for the inevitable New Elementary article on this set. Do not care for the build, but SO MANY glorious new pieces
@Zordboy : You don't - they are applied to standard bricks.
Toronto Skydome with working roof next? :)
^^ Or maybe the Georgia Dome, complete with collapse feature, camera stand, and MARTA bus :)
@CapnRex101
Just letting you know that in the review you accidentally referred to Sir Alex Ferguson as "Six Alex Ferguson" in the paragraph after discussing the north corner section of the stadium. No big deal just thought I'd let you know. Thanks for the detailed amazing review.
I don't think the expense of printing parts is why LEGO uses stickers. I believe it is due to the issue of storing printed parts in their warehouses. If every part that got a sticker were printed they'd probably need twice the amount of storage space.
As someone who hates soccer (and UK soccer even more so) I have no interest in this. I do hope it isn't the last stadium LEGO produces though and that they eventually make something I actually like :)
Good reason not to support the team on the day they lost to LFC.
@Mr__Thrawn said:
LEGO designers have a specific number of new and/or printed parts they can use per set. I think 98% of the parts in a set must be previously existing.
When will LEGO get the message that we want printed pieces.. even if the cost is slightly higher..
We don't need to be charged a higher price, the prices are high enough and it's not like LEGO i lacking in profits. Plus if the Chinese sets can have NO stickers this year with tons of new prints then there isn't any excuses.
@The_Green_Brick_Giant said:
"We don't need to be charged a higher price, the prices are high enough and it's not like LEGO i lacking in profits. Plus if the Chinese sets can have NO stickers this year with tons of new prints then there isn't any excuses."
How about this for an excuse: reusability. You know, the whole point of Lego? Imagine how much more limited the range of curved sloped would be if Speed Champions was all printed, for example.
This sticker debate has been interesting (personally, I leave them off wherever possible; applying them seems to spoil the 'flow' during a LEGO build) and it had me ask myself, "why is the pitch printed then?"
It clearly means more football stadia are planned.
I find sports a bit dull, but I hope your team's ground gets a set!
@magmafrost
"How about this for an excuse: reusability. You know, the whole point of Lego? Imagine how much more limited the range of curved sloped would be if Speed Champions was all printed, for example."
That argument would stand up if it weren't for the fact that the stickers cannot easily be removed and reapplied. Also, many budget range sets come with only printed parts rather than stickers, which removes the choice of whether or not to keep the stickers off.
This should be part of Arhitecture theme
@magmafrost said:
"How about this for an excuse: reusability. You know, the whole point of Lego? Imagine how much more limited the range of curved sloped would be if Speed Champions was all printed, for example."
You know when I was a kid I loved getting printed pieces instead of stickers, because back in the day, using stickers meant that after reusing the part for something else, the sticker (which more often than not even went across multiple pieces!) was unusable anymore, so the original set had to make do without decorations from then on. While printed pieces, if it was bricks (which it often was) could simply be turned around and used like an unprinted piece.
Massive Yawn.
This will not sell for 0bvious reasons:
-it is a specific stadium of a specific soccer-team.
-soccer is a poor mans sport.
Great photography Captain. Really enhances your also great review.
As usual plenty of debate here as both football and stickers are very divisive!!!!
Very curious to see how successful (or not) this will actually be. It’s what I’m calling a ‘marmite’ set - you love it or hate it. ;-)
Anyone else notice that the goals are connected using a heretofore illegal technique: plate/tile/panel base between studs?
@Tuun said:
"Massive Yawn.
This will not sell for 0bvious reasons:
-it is a specific stadium of a specific soccer-team.
-soccer is a poor mans sport.
"
Call it football at least, for the sake of sport!
Poor man's sport? You got a poor brain mate.
Like a cricket stadium? :D
@Librarian1976 That's been a "legal" technique for at least 5 years
Yikes, football (or soccer, whatever... ) easy pass. Good for my wallet.
@Librarian1976 said:
"Anyone else notice that the goals are connected using a heretofore illegal technique: plate/tile/panel base between studs? "
I was thinking the same thing. Also since the part used is transparent it may create more problems in the future being two types of plastic under stress.
@Gruffy1987 said:
"Could part of the reason it has so many stickers be because neutral people can leave it has a neutral stadium?"
No, Anyone who follows football would still know that is the home of Man Utd.
There are many many reasons. Would be nice to see a stadium line though - with some more acceptable stadia. Im surprised they didn't start with something more neutral. Wembley, Maracana, NY Yankee's, Bayern Munich and Dallas Cowboys all have visually more impressive homes in my opinion.
"...displays his likeness between the entrances."
More correctly, displays an unprinted, shrunken-down version of a blocky, almost completely unsculpted minifigure. Unless, of course, this was an intentional bit of humor, in which case LOL!
@paul_merton Can you point to some sets that employ the technique? As far as I am aware this was highlighted as an illegal technique in a PowerPoint presentation by Jaime Berard a few year back.
@Librarian1976 : Jamie's presentation is from 2006 and says that putting a plate vertically between the studs of another plate/brick is illegal. To put a tile like that is legal though, or a panel like in this set.
Other examples are set 21046 in which 2x3 tiles are connected like this (see photo in the review: https://brickset.com/article/44192/review-21046-empire-state-building ), set 21309 - 1x2 tile as the American flag on the moon - and set 75827, 1x4 panel in a desk at the ground floor.
Apparently, tiles are slightly thinner than plates, as confirmed by Jamie: https://ramblingbrick.com/2017/07/29/stressed-by-the-elements-saturn-v-tiles-plates-and-the-legality-of-connections/
This is just a beautiful Lego model. It feels like quite an important release. Something very different going on around this release. I think that it trancends the sporting politics surrounding the 'supporting/or not' of the source material too. (And this from a Wolves fan). There is something very brave as well as creative about the decision to release a set like this. And I think that should be applauded.
It would be great to see a future article/summary of the other Lego Football themed releases that have appeared over the years. I still treasure my Zidane minifigure.
Honestly, I hope this sells well for LEGO. It's big, it's expensive, and of limited appeal. But, it's a big beautiful set, featuring something LEGO has not done accurately ever before. It looks amazing, and I am not a fan of soccer, and until this was being discussed on the Brickset Forums, I didn't know the team nor the stadium existed.
I love the idea of this set. Even though I'm not a fan of this sport the idea of a stadium is amazing. I would love to have this and find a place in my city for it. Not sure if it'll fit though!
While I have zero interest in buying this with no attachment to football/soccer or the stadium itself, this looks like a very fun build.
Did anyone notice how they cheated in the box art by presenting the set with the "old" true trans-clear pieces while the actual set comes with the new "trans-milk" pieces?
Guess they are too ashamed to actually portray the disgusting look of those new pieces in the official set pictures.
But it's false advertising anyway, just like they always did with metallic gold versus warm gold. Shame on them, imho this is far more shameful than promoting ManU.
Even Lepin or whatever they are called now have better trans-clear pieces nowadays. Oh the irony...
@AustinPowers said:
"Did anyone notice how they cheated in the box art by presenting the set with the "old" true trans-clear pieces while the actual set comes with the new "trans-milk" pieces?
Guess they are too ashamed to actually portray the disgusting look of those new pieces in the official set pictures.
But it's false advertising anyway, just like they always did with metallic gold versus warm gold. Shame on them, imho this is far more shameful than promoting ManU.
Even Lepin or whatever they are called now have better trans-clear pieces nowadays. Oh the irony..."
Try viewing some video reviews of the set. What I'm seeing are trans-clear pieces that match what is shown on the box art - no milky cloudiness. e.g. Zusammengebaut TV review https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAjbPj5sN2k
Also realize that LEGO uses renders for the box art which will always be more crisp than the actual physical sets (they've been doing this for quite a while now).
Best to thoroughly check your facts before posting false accusations like this - it's really starting to hurt your credibility.
@darkstonegrey said:
"Try viewing some video reviews of the set. What I'm seeing are trans-clear pieces that match what is shown on the box art - no milky cloudiness. e.g. Zusammengebaut TV review https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAjbPj5sN2k
Also realize that LEGO uses renders for the box art which will always be more crisp than the actual physical sets (they've been doing this for quite a while now).
Best to thoroughly check your facts before posting false accusations like this - it's really starting to hurt your credibility."
Actually, coming across as being a zero-critical fanboy is starting to hurt YOUR credibility imho.
I do watch video reviews, but they are not my sole source of input and certainly not the most important.
I see the pictures here in the Brickset review and they speak for themselves, don't they?
Plus, that very video you mentioned also clearly shows the milkyness of those pieces. If you can't see it I suggest visiting an optician. Really, it's blatantly obvious even in that video.
I have also seen the set in real life and those pieces look just like they do here in the pictures, which was my point. I also have several other recent LEGO sets with those new trans-milk pieces and I stand by my statement that those look horribly cheap, just like Chinese knock-off pieces of old, and sadly also much worse than true current trans-clear pieces by brands like CaDa, Qman, Cobi etc.
I just think TLG should be honest enough to show the kind of "quality" (or rather lack thereof) of those pieces in their official renders too.
Not doing so is a conscious decision they made just like they did with the metallic-gold versus warm gold in official set images. No reason to fake that either, other than to make people think they are getting something better than what they actually are. Try to spin it any way you like, it doesn't change the facts!
Great review!
Definitely an interesting build; however, I agree with the comments on TLG's sticker diarrhea. As someone living in the USA I am not a hardcore soccer fan, but did really enjoy the Damned United movie about Brian Clough. In fact, I thought the movie was referring to the Manchester United until I read otherwise in Wikipedia. I'm sure I would have been in really deep hot water if I had posted those two teams as being the same. ;-) Please forgive my "yankeeness."
@Lordmoral said:
" @Crow_T__Robot said:
" @Sneakysneaker said:
"Soccer is lame! I want stadiums from a real sport, like football."
Oh the irony of this comment....
This looks amazing though, even from someone like me who is not into any sport. Probably won't get it, but the designers sure did a good job with it."
He must be referring to the US version but I appreciate both sports. This is a beast of a set but I have to buy UCS Millenium Falcon first."
Oh the irony of you not recognising the irony of that original ironic reply!
Anyway, given the current state of the Man Utd season and general malcontent perhaps some ManU fans will be building this to throw at the wall to vent their anger...
I also have mixed feelings about this set. On the one hand I have no interest in sports but on the other - as an architect - this type of structure interests me. As far as the colour scheme is concerned I would’ve preferred more subdued colours in the same way that an architectural practice would’ve built a model of this type. The bright colours – although true to reality – are to my mind a bit toy-like in appearance and emphasise the plastic nature of Lego bricks, which doesn’t appeal to me.
• Choice of stadium: Given the number of excellent soccer stadiums available in the world this is not the most attractive one I’ve seen so far. My country - South Africa - hosted the world soccer tournament in 2010 and we built a significant number of very attractive soccer stadiums in the major cities. The biggest problem with stadiums in general is that they often have very complicated shapes which obviously are difficult to translate into Lego.
• Value for money: Two sets that have recently caught my attention are the Disney Train and Station 71044 and the Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle 71043. Although they have very little in common with the Soccer Stadium set I would’ve liked to own them if they were more affordable. The Soccer Stadium set - although still quite expensive - is nevertheless more affordable than the other two sets mentioned above.
So, I would seriously consider buying this set if it ever became available at a sale.
@Sneakysneaker said:
"Soccer is lame! I want stadiums from a real sport, like football."
You mean the football which is played primarily using the feet? Yes that's real football. The other real sport is rugby, because real men do not need to cage themselves up.