Western United plans to host ALW and NPL matches out of Tarneit next season

Western United has set its sights on hosting matches at a new 5000-seat training stadium in Melbourne’s west from next season. See the full story.

Womens A League match Western United v Melbourne Victory on Saturday, Nov 19, 2022.(Photo by Con CHRONIS)

Western United is confident it will be ready to move into and host matches at its Tarneit base by the next A-Leagues season.

The club plans to move into its new base by July-August this year and play A-League Women’s and NPL home matches out of a 5000 seat training stadium.

This facility will complement a 15,000 seat purpose built stadium that the club has also promised to build.

An opening date for the new Wyndham Stadium is yet to be released.

The club is also in discussions with the A-League about hosting A-League Men’s matches from the training stadium next season.

“We’ve always had a desire to be based in the west and that’s something we’ve never shied away from,” Western United chief executive Chris Pehlivanis said.

“The plan is to play NPL and A-League Women’s matches (in Tarneit) from next season and we’re working behind the scenes to consider that venue for A-League Men’s games as well with the league.

“We’re working through building something there that meets those requirements.

“It definitely makes it easier and accessible (being in the west) because we’re all about community.”

A move further into the heartland could provide a greater boost for the women’s team, which has exceeded expectations both on and off the field in its inaugural season.

A 5-0 thrashing of Canberra United at the weekend consolidated its place atop the ladder after 10 rounds.

United also sits among the best attended teams in the A-League Women’s, with an average of more than 1500 fans through the gates at home.

Only Wellington, Sydney FC and Melbourne City average more at home.

Unlike the men’s team, United have opted to play the majority of its women’s matches in the west, with the team training and playing out of City Vista in Caroline Springs.

A decision the club’s Women’s Football Integration Manager Amanda Stella said had filled the stands with local fans.

“These sort of boutique stadiums are very good for elite women‘s games, because you can get a thousand people in there and it looks really full and the atmosphere is great,” she said.

“Even though we had a Wednesday night game it was still attractive for people to come. I think the fact that you don‘t have to drive into AAMI and park the car and pay for that, and then go in and watch a game… it’s appealing for people to go out to stadiums in the suburbs.”