A-League: Wellington Phoenix to call Wollongong home, Brisbane Roar abandon Suncorp Stadium

With the season set to start in a little over four weeks, the A-League still can’t lock in all its venues as stadium availability becomes a major issue.

Stadium availability remains a problem for the A-League as the draw for the new season was released on Tuesday without confirmation of all venues.

As revealed by News Corp on Monday, the season will kick off with a derby between Western Sydney Wanderers and newcomers Macarthur FC at Bankwest Stadium on December 27 as part of a first round that also includes a December 30 Sydney FC-Melbourne City grand final rematch at ANZ Stadium.

However, Sydney FC and Western United are hosting some matches during the season at yet-to-be confirmed venues due to challenges the A-League faces with the use of the SCG, Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium and GMHBA Stadium in Geelong during the 2021 AFL season.

Eight Western United home games don’t yet have a venue, with the club’s desire to host some games at AAMI Park having earnt the ire of Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City.

A-League officials remain confident of finding a solution to the venue problems before the start of the season.

Wellington Phoenix, the team most affected by COVID travel restrictions, will remain based in NSW and will play their 13 home matches at WIN Stadium in Wollongong.

“We’re looking forward to putting on a show here to the Wollongong people for our home matches as well as becoming part of the community,” Phoenix general manager David Dome said. “Our players are keen to get out there and meet the fans, and we want the Wollongong public to really get to know us and what we’re all about.”

Here it is 😍

The #ALeague Season 2020/21 Fixture List: https://t.co/bAtTpKxr9O 📜 pic.twitter.com/gyrq7Vr25U

— A-League (@ALeague) November 24, 2020

Depending on the formation next year of a travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand, up to three of the Phoenix’s home games could be switched to Wellington.

The draw also confirmed that Brisbane Roar had abandoned Suncorp Stadium – the club’s home ground since the A-League’s inception in 2005 and Australia’s best rectangular football venue – for boutique Redcliffe venue Dolphin Stadium.

The Roar are now Brisbane only in name, with their training base on the Gold Coast and their new home ground situated in the Moreton Bay Region.

However, should the Roar host finals matches, Suncorp Stadium looms as the likely venue.

All clubs, except Perth Glory, will play matches in the season’s first week that is made up of eight games.

Roar skipper Tom Aldred and his team will no longer call Suncorp Stadium home. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

The Glory, currently in Qatar on AFC Champions League duty, requested the start of their A-League campaign be delayed because of their inability to train during a two-week quarantine period on their return to Perth.

The Glory’s first game of the season won’t be until January 16 against Adelaide United at HBF Park in Perth.

The Victory and Sydney, both also in Qatar, will be allowed to train during their 14-day quarantine stint.

A-League officials have no plans for hubs and are confident all border restrictions will be eased to allow the season schedule to run as planned. However, contingency plans are also in place.

FFA head of leagues Greg O’Rourke said: “This has been one of the most challenging fixture processes we’ve ever been involved in because of the continually evolving restrictions, but our priority has always been bringing the best football to fans in the safest way, working with all our stakeholders to do so.”

Players will be permitted to go to cafes, restaurants and bars during the season provided the venues satisfy COVID-safe protocols.

Teams will also be allowed to fly to away matches the day before the game.

The opening match of the season will be part of a double-header that also includes the W-League season opener between the Wanderers and Melbourne Victory.

Teams will be permitted to make five substitutions in both the A-League and the W-League.

The full W-League draw will be released late this week.

NCA Newswire

First week of A-League season: December 27 – Wanderers v Macarthur, Bankwest Stadium;

December 28 – Western United v Adelaide United, GMHBA Stadium; December 29 – Roar v Phoenix, Dolphin Stadium; December 30 – Sydney FC v Melbourne City, ANZ Stadium; December 31 – Mariners v Jets, Central Coast Stadium; January 1 – Wanderers v Western United, Bankwest Stadium: January 2 – Phoenix v Sydney FC, WIN Stadium; Victory v Roar, AAMI Park.