An A-League record crowd of 61,880 witnessed the first Sydney Derby at Stadium Australia in October last year.
Julian Keith
THE Western Sydney Wanderers will attract one of the biggest crowds in Australian sport this year on Saturday 15 July when they line up against English Premier League giants Arsenal at Stadium Australia.
And they will then look to set a new A-League all-time crowd record at the Sydney Derby on Saturday 9 December – one of five A-League blockbusters the Wanderers will play at Stadium Australia in the Hyundai A-League 2017/18 season.
Football Federation Australia has released the season draw for the coming season and all eyes will be on the Sydney Derby at Stadium Australia in the lead-up to Christmas, with expectations this game will attract a crowd even higher than the 61,880 fans that packed into the venue for the opening round last season.
The Wanderers v Arsenal FC game on Saturday 15 July is on track to be an 80,000-plus sell-out, with Wanderers fans to turn out in force.
Tickets are still available across all price categories.
Western Sydney Wanderers v Sydney FC kicked off the 2016/17 Hyundai A-League season and set a new benchmark for attendances in the A-League with a crowd of 61,880.
But with the Wanderers hosting the second Derby of the season this year and additional promotional time, that crowd record is set to rise again on 9 December.
The Wanderers will open the 2017/18 Hyundai A-League season with a game against Perth Glory on Sunday 8 October (kick-off 6pm).
They will play five blockbusters at Stadium Australia, including a traditional New Year’s Day game against Melbourne City, a second Summer of Football clash with Adelaide United on Wednesday 10 January, a Sunday afternoon fixture against Melbourne Victory on 19 January, and the final game of the A-League season at 5pm on Sunday 15 April against Adelaide United.
Western Sydney Wanderers at Stadium Australia 2017/18
Round 10: Saturday 9 December v Sydney FC;
Round 13: Monday 1 January v Melbourne City;
Round 15: Wednesday 10 January v Adelaide United;
Round 17: Sunday 19 January v Melbourne Victory;
Round 27: Sunday 15 April v Adelaide United
Stadium Australia Managing Director, Mr Daryl Kerry, said: “The Western Sydney Wanderers have established themselves as one of Australia’s outstanding sporting clubs.
“The Wanderers drew more than 100,000 fans through the gates to two Sydney Derby games last season, including that record attendance of 61,880.
“It is clear that the Sydney Derby – played in the city’s major events stadium – has the potential to build into one of the world’s great football contests, and we look forward to Saturday 9 December this year with the cross-city rivalry between the Western Sydney Wanderers and Sydney FC will again capture the imagination of sports fans everywhere.”
The full 2017/18 Hyundai A-League Draw can be found here.
