Western United to play A-League games at Tarneit
A-League club Western United has confirmed home games will be played at Tarneit during the upcoming season, with its new training facility to host matches.
Construction of the Wyndham Regional Football Facility commenced in March last year and is nearing completion, with the first A-League Men’s game likely to be played there on December 16.
The facility features a main pitch incorporating an 800-seat grandstand, while Wyndham City has approved the construction of a 2,000-seat temporary grandstand on the eastern side of the pitch to boost its capacity to 5,000 for A-League matches.
Western United will play its first three home matches of the 2023/24 A-League season in Ballarat at Mars Stadium, while the venue for its remaining 10 home games are listed as ‘TBC’, starting with the round 8 clash against Brisbane Roar on December 16.
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The club announced in May last year they would play two seasons at the training facility before moving into its new 15,000-seat stadium, however construction is yet to commence.
Western United had the lowest average attendance last season, with 3,168 across its 13 home games, most of which were played at AAMI Park.
The club has previously also played home games at GMHBA Stadium, UTAS Stadium, North Hobart Oval, Morshead Park and the Whitten Oval, while it unsuccessfully tried to schedule home games at Lakeside Stadium.
Wyndham City Mayor, Councillor Susan McIntyre, said she was looking forward to seeing Western United play their first games on home turf this coming season.
“We can’t wait to see both the men’s and women’s teams play right here in Wyndham,” Cr McIntyre said.
“By using the training facility as a match-day venue for both A-League Men and Women matches until the 15,000 capacity stadium is built, we’re getting Western United to its rightful home in Tarneit sooner rather than later.”
Socceroos legend and Western United Football Club Head Coach John Aloisi added, “It’s been a significant couple of years on the pitch for our club, but I think this next step off the pitch will be the most important. We are delighted to be able to confirm that we will be able to host men’s and women’s matches at our new home, in front of our fans in the west.
“The people of the west have been there with us on this journey since the beginning and we can’t wait to see them pack out our new home in Tarneit. We are looking forward to making our new home a fortress and welcoming everyone in the west to become part of our family.”
The name of the regional football facility is set to change, with its current name an interim one only and Wyndham City asking residents for ideas to name both the facility and the pavilion.
The 2023/24 A-League season kicks-off this Friday, with Adelaide United hosting the Central Coast Mariners at Coopers Stadium.
