The Wanderers disappointing A-League campaign to date has left fans feeling rather numb and almost as flat as the atmosphere at their temporary home at Olympic Park.
While on the field there is still plenty of time for redemption, the home ground situation will plague the club for the next two years while the new Parramatta Stadium is being rebuilt.
The average crowd for the Wanderers this season – not factoring in the season opener against Sydney FC – is around 13,200. This drops to 12,700 when including only the games played at Spotless Stadium.
While these numbers are hardly a major drop from previous seasons. The 2016/17 average was 14,297.
The electric atmosphere at Wanderers home games which has become a highlight of the A league has gone a little flat.
This is partly due to results on the field but also the fact the games are being played at oval shaped non-football type venues where the fans are not on top of the action.
While contracts are in place to use Spotless Stadium and ANZ Stadium, it might be fun to investigate alternate options the Wanderers may have while they wait for their brand-new purpose built stadium.
These options involve going to rectangular shaped venues around Western Sydney where the fans are right near the action.
Option 1
Three home games at Campbelltown Stadium, three home games at Penrith Stadium, three home games at Belmore Sports Ground, three home games at Spotless Stadium and one game (Sydney derby) at ANZ Stadium.
With this option the club has a chance to truly live up to its name and wander all over Western Sydney and capture fans from all over the region.
With the club not having a permanent home for two more seasons after the current one, they may as well use it as an opportunity to take the game right into the backyards of the western suburbs of Sydney to its wide range of fans.
The club’s strength from its beginning has been its ability to engage with its community and this would be a great way to consolidate and build on this.
All venues have a decent capacity and crucially all are within a short distance of a train station making access relatively easy. The corporate facilities at Campbelltown, Belmore and Penrith aren’t as good as the venues at Olympic Park and some fans may prefer a permanent central location rather than having to travel around. However these temporary problems could be outweighed by the prospect of attracting new fans from the western suburbs.
The Campbelltown/Macarthur region has a population of nearly 250,000 of which more than 8,000 are registered footballers. This doesn’t factor in the booming Liverpool region which is a 15 minute drive up the M5 and boasts numbers which are just as strong.
Penrith has a population of 200,000 including over 12,000 people who play the round ball game.
When you add Blacktown (a short 25 min drive up the M4) to the mix, this figure more than doubles.
The Canterbury/Bankstown region where Belmore is based has a population of well over 350,000 and over 21,000 football participants from both the Canterbury District and Bankstown District associations.
These numbers are huge and the Wanderers can take full advantage by taking meaningful games right into their backyards and showing them they are very much part of the club’s heartland.
By the time the Wanderers return to their spiritual home in the centre of western Sydney they may well have significantly more members than the 19,300 they have this season.
Option 2
In 2017-18, have six games at Campbelltown, six games at Penrith and one game (Sydney derby) at ANZ Stadium. In 2018-19, have six games at Belmore, six games at Campbelltown and two games (Sydney derbies) at ANZ Stadium.
This option allows the Wanderers to spend one year of the remaining two consolidating each different region of Western Sydney with more games in each particular year rather than a lesser number of games at each venue over two seasons.
This may also make it easier when sorting out membership packages.
Whether the Wanderers management considers options like the two mentioned above or come up with their own or stick with what they have, it will be interesting to see what the membership numbers will be in the coming two season prior to moving back to Parramatta Stadium.
As always, the fans will vote with their feet and their back pocket.
One important factor to consider is the impact on the playing group. Some might find it disturbing to their routine if they have several home venues but many will find it better if they played in a proper rectangular football stadium where the fans are right on top of the action.
With the A league expanding in the coming seasons it would be great to show everyone else how strong the Wanderers brand is and how the western suburbs of Sydney is truly the heartland of the world game here in Australia.
Josh
Guest
Not at all, in the FFA cup, NYL and W League the club has triple choked.
Janakan
Guest
Some of your are missing the point, the crowds aren't that bad, it's the atmosphere
Waz
Guest
You'd hope but I've heard differently.
Matthew Skellett
Guest
The issue is Popa's shallow recruiting at the start of the season. His misplaced faith in incompetent non-performers like Hamill Redmayne, Bulut and NTS . Also his continuing signing of questionable recruits like Pinatares and Borda . The defense has tighrened up and we have a decent goalkeeper now but that should have all been sorted out at the START OF THE SEASON not more than halfway through . No Popa has had his day and it's time the Club moved on to a Coach that has a better eye for overseas talent and not a soft spot for non-performers .
Cameron
Roar Guru
Despite good points, I wouldn't sign off on playing in a stadium that was yet to be complete. I feel confident that Parrmatta and Wanderers will pay their fair share but still be looked after reasonably better than the Broncos and Roar.
Cameron
Roar Guru
On the 30th of March 2016 the following was announcement was made: Western Sydney Wanderers today announced that the Club will play out of ANZ Stadium and Spotless Stadium from the 2016/17 season. Following consultation with Football Federation Australia the Wanderers will host the first Sydney derby of the 2016/17 season at ANZ Stadium in a match that could potentially set a new attendance record in the Hyundai A-League. With the majority of matches to be played at Spotless Stadium and a minimum of four blockbuster matches including both Sydney derbies to be played at ANZ Stadium in the Hyundai A-League 2016/17 season, the agreement with both venues and work with the Sydney Olympic Park Authority has created an important opportunity for the Western Sydney Wanderers and the growth of football in the region. Where are they now? Wanderers special After extensive member and partner consultation including the survey of over 3,000 Wanderers members, playing matches from a single location earned 70 per cent of the vote while a combination of Spotless Stadium and ANZ Stadium gained close to 60 per cent of the total vote based on the six venue options presented. Wanderers CEO John Tsatsimas said that the decision to move to venues at Sydney Olympic Park was based on strong member feedback and the best interests of the sustainability and growth of the Club. “The overwhelming response from our members was they wanted a central location that has good public transport and access as well as being able to fit in not only our current 18,341 members but also have room to grow,” said Tsatsimas. “Sydney Olympic Park offers two exceptional venues in ANZ Stadium and Spotless Stadium which will best serve our current member base and provides a major growth opportunity for the Club which allows us to offer a greater number of Wanderers fans access to our blockbuster matches both now and into the future.” While stadium capacity for seated members and allocation for room in an admissible area for the Red & Black Bloc to continue their passionate support of the Wanderers were key elements in selecting the venue, the positive appetite from both venues to hosting Wanderers matches during the rebuilding period of Pirtek Stadium at Parramatta played a key factor. “From a business perspective both ANZ Stadium and Spotless Stadium have been outstanding in their attitudes and appetite for having the Wanderers at their venues,” continued Tsatsimas. “We look forward to creating an environment at both venues that will retain the atmosphere that has become synonymous with Wanderers matches as well as creating a new standard in our delivery of match days to our members, new fans and corporate partners.” This article was originally published at: http://www.wswanderersfc.com.au/article/western-sydney-wanderers-announce-deals-with-anz-stadium-and-spotless-stadium/68d7fmmk8amp1ng4npdiy0n4e. - See more at: http://www.a-league.com.au/article/western-sydney-wanderers-announce-deals-with-anz-stadium-and-spotless-stadium/1vuupismw9kqs1i3ryqtmy6uet#sthash.PLOShJ6s.dpuf Read more at http://www.a-league.com.au/article/western-sydney-wanderers-announce-deals-with-anz-stadium-and-spotless-stadium/1vuupismw9kqs1i3ryqtmy6uet#MwZOJO5T6gcTHwwj.99 Interesting to note that close to two thirds of members are turning up. Perhaps the other third of supporters just won't turn up until Parramatta is rebuilt.
Waz
Guest
yup. And wanderers haven't signed a lease agreement yet but I bet it will make their eyes water.
RBBAnonymous
Guest
Sorry but I have to disagree. Sydney does have more rectangular stadiums, doesn't mean they are any good or up to standard. They are all in terrible condition and need upgrades. The stadium at Campelltown is a dump as are Penrith and Belmore. Furthermore none of those stadiums could adequately seat our members. All the stadiums were in poor locations and difficult for most of our supporters to get to. I know you don't want to hear it but there is nothing wrong with Spotless stadium, the facilities are first class. It is more than adequate as a temporary solution. I think people are just looking for excuses for a poor season and of course the stadium is an easy target, must be the lack of atmosphere etc. What was the excuse in Season 3 when we were going worse. This article was not worth writing because we don't need to search for a new home.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
A good point - experience tells us that any major government investment in stadia invariably is accompanied by a hefty bill which someone has to pay off.
Janakan
Guest
Wanderers fans are the most loyal :) we will go anywhere and everywhere to support our club. Have a look at the numbers going to Japan for the ACL
Waz
Guest
Wanderers haven't yet signed a contract to play at their new home and it will be interesting to see what the commercial terms are and whether wanderers can afford them. If you want to know why Brisbane Roar lose money each year with the same average crowds as wanderers, all you need to do is look st the Suncorp stadium deal of $2 million+ each season to rent the stadium and pay off the governments debt. Wanderers are treading a familiar path, going "home" will be the start of their problems not the end.
Pete
Guest
Some good ideas. Campbelltown is a great stadium
punter
Guest
Must be difficult to see Sydney FC 11 pts clear.
jeff dustby
Guest
sounds like the Northern Spirit curse has come around again
lesterlike
Guest
They were stupid for prioritising seating for members, Sydney has more rectangular stadiums than any other city in Australia and they still managed to chose the worst possible option. Penrith or Campbelltown should have been no brainer choices for their home grounds. Should have told their least important members to just cop the hill for a couple of seasons and be grateful that they are going to get a fancy new ground at the end of it.
Buddy
Guest
That's probably the least likely!
Buddy
Guest
I am under the impression that the deal to play at Spotless and ANZ is done for the duration of the rebuild and therefore this is a redundant conversation. As far as playing numbers are concerned, I am fairly confident that irrespective of where the team is based, similar numbers will prevail. Macarthur, Southern Districts, Nepean, Blacktown, Granville and Bankstown all have significant playing numbers that contribute to the WSW following but it does not follow that because people play, they will follow the local A League team. The districts quoted have around 70-80k of players between them. If half of them attended - crowds would be fantastic. Unfortunately, it doesn't work like that. The questions some of us are asking regarding attendances is whether or not people are staying away due to what they see on the field, or whether the existing fanbase does not like going to Homebush? Likewise, when the ACL is played at Campbelltown what is going to be the reaction of the fans to having to rearrange their plans on a weeknight. Overall, isit easier or more difficult to travel to Campbelltown when factooring in work and travel at peak times.
Aethelbert
Guest
Option 3. Get a better squad and start winning games and the fans will come back.
Josh
Guest
I know this may be a little idealistic, but as professionals the players should be able to play in any stadium, no matter it's design or crowd, so long as the pitch itself is the correct size. This idea that it's the ground sucking the life out of the team and crowd is ridiculous. If the players actually performed the crowds would return, and those spectators there would become more involved (subject to the RBB involving other parts of the stadium, of course).