A-League football clubs these days comprise multiple teams and require multiple facilities. A club’s physical infrastructure influences everything from club culture to team performance and after 20 years of A-League football many of the clubs have been forward thinking in their infrastructure arrangements.
Where does your club rank in terms of its facilities, and where can it improve?
Let’s take a look at Western United.
Current Set Up
All of Western United’s football operations are held at the Wyndham Regional Football Facility (WRFF). This remarkably includes all training sessions for all teams and supposedly all future home matches.
The WRFF incorporates three pitches and an administration building. The main show pitch also has a capacity of around 4,000 inclusive of an 800-seat grandstand and an additional 2,000 temporary seats. It has been reported that Wyndham City Council own and funded the facility, however Western United are the operators and primary tenants.
History of Set Up
Much has been written specifically about Western United’s stadium arrangements and intentions. For a deeper dive into these stories please read our articles here:
- New Stadium will be a gamechanger…. for Western United and its investors
- Western United Ownership History
In short though, Western United entered the A-League with the promise of developing facilities in Wyndham. An arrangement with the Wyndham City Council would see the construction of training facilities for the club to use, the gift of land for the West Melbourne Group to develop and sell, and the construction of a 15,000 seat football stadium with the proceeds from the earlier property development. The project has been marred by delays and changing communications from the development group and the club.
Property development aside, Western United were initially based out of the Caroline Springs George Cross’ training facility in Melbourne’s north west, with their Youth and Women’s programs training and playing out of the facility until their relocation to the WRFF in 2024. The ALM training base and club administration however moved to the Hangar facility of the Essendon Football Club in 2021, until also moving to the WRFF in 2024.
In terms of match day facilities Western United have generally played all Youth, Women’s and minor games at the Caroline Springs George Cross’ training facility in Melbourne’s north west. The ALM team however have played at many home grounds.
Initially they played matches at Geelong’s Skilled Park but the arrangement came to an end in 2021. The have also played home games at Whitten Oval and Morshead Park. Their most recent Victorian arrangement saw the club play home games at AAMI Park and Eureka Stadium in Ballarat. The club has also played home games in Tasmania with matches hosted at both North Hobart Oval and York Park in Launceston. Following the construction of the WRFF it is expected that the club will move all ALM games to Tarneit, with three games scheduled there at the end of their 2024 season.
It should be noted that the women’s arm began in 2020 when the club entered into an arrangement with Calder United, a women’s football team in Melbourne’s North West. Calder United were based out of Keilor Park’s home ground in Melbourne’s North West. The partnership helped form the basis for Western United’s first ALW team.
Assessment of Set Up
The establishment of the WRFF has completely changed the outlook and set up of the club. Now being able to boast that all of its operations are housed under one roof, in its intended homeland, Western United has finally secured somewhere to build out a more stable club culture.
The facilities are basic but they are their own. As primary tenants the club is able to better control its destiny and realise more revenue sources, included a reported possible sub-lease to the rugby union side, the Melbourne Rebels. There have also been rumours that Avondale FC may look to use the facilities to host their National Second Division home matches. Western United’s strong relationship with the council is also an advantage and should help support continued management of the facilities.
It should be said though the that facilities are small with only three pitches. The limited main pitch capacity though should still be large enough to support the club’s current operations, including potentially their ALM home matches. The new arrangements are also likely to be be more financially profitable. Western United prior to WRFF were renting out the 30,000 seat AAMI Park to host the club’s small crowds averaging about 15% of stadium capacity.
The long term facility arrangement however will likely require a couple of things, firstly transport to the facility for match day. A train station is possible, but requires the go ahead from the State Government. Secondly improved match day amenity. The current venue is not just located far away but only has sparse amenity reminiscence of some smaller and more isolated NPL grounds.
Notes and considerations
The Western United relationship with council is key as they have provided land which underpins the main stadium plans, they have funded the training base and have assisted in planning approvals. The location of the stadium may seem far away but the club exists partly as a growth accelerator for the region meaning even its sparse current facilities serve a greater purpose.
Western United needs to be judged on this basis and how it grows with the community, rather than against established clubs in populated city centers. As long as the club can remain financially viable and its property dealings stay live, the club and its facilities will satisfy their key stakeholders. From an A-League perspective though the arrangement does take the gloss off the competition. In exchange for an extra team and potential future stadium, the League will need to accept the club’s current low attendances and basic facilities.
Gaps and Opportunities
The key opportunity is obviously the eventual 15,000 seat stadium and the growth of the entire Wyndham region. There is a lot required for that to happen. In the shorted term, the WRFF will need to improve transport links and stadium amenity. This means specifcially: potential bus shuttles; improved traffic management; hospitality options at the ground; shade and rain protection at the ground.
Ratings
Overall Ranking: 3rd out of 12
Overall Rating: A-
Even with basic facilities Western United claim a high placing in TBG’s ranking by virtue of being able to operate a facility that brings all its operations under one roof and also serves its intended purpose. The facilities may be basic but for a club with crowds as small as Western United, this is all the club needs. A strong potential upside is also being considered here but after many years in the wilderness the club should be happy with its current arrangement.
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