Venue uncertainty for Central Coast Mariners as Western United announce start date for stadium construction

September 23, 2021

The Central Coast Mariners have today advised that there is no certainty that it will play its 2021/22 A-League home fixtures at the Central Coast Stadium, the news following yesterday’s announcement that fellow A-League club the Western United's parent company will begin the construction process of its Wyndham City Stadium next month.

With new start dates and fixtures for November and December for the 2021/22 A-League and W-League seasons announced this morning, Central Coast Mariners released a statement explaining “(we) would like to advise our partners, members and supporters that our scheduled home matches are currently listed as ‘TBC’ whilst we work through options available to the club.

“This is because a venue hire agreement for Central Coast Stadium is still pending by Central Coast Council and not yet finalised for any of our A-League or next season's W-League matches at Central Coast Stadium.”

With Central Coast Council currently tendering the management of the venue, the statement added “in respect to the ongoing management rights tender of the stadium, there is currently a process in place that the club is very supportive of and it is important that the process is not delayed or impacted by these short-term venue hire discussions.

“We will be working closely with APL (Australian Professional Leagues) on finalising this in preparation for the season ahead and while confident a solution will be found soon, we will not be making any further comments at this stage.”

A-League, W-League and the Wellington Phoenix
The first two months of the A-League and W-League will see both Wellington Phoenix teams based in NSW until the start of January, due to the border restrictions in place on both sides of the Tasman Sea as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Phoenix women, who will play their first W-League match on the opening night of the 2021/2 season against Western Sydney Wanderers on Friday 3rd December, will remain in NSW for the whole season, but could fly in to New Zealand to play double-headers with the A-League team, which is hoping to be based back in New Zealand as early as possible in 2022.

Wyndham City Stadium to begin construction
The parent company of the A-League’s Western United has announced that the construction process on the Wyndham City Stadium will commence on the 25th October.

Being built by Western Melbourne Group (WMG), the venue will be the first fully football club-owned senior stadium in Australia upon its completion

Once completed the stadium will have a 15,000 spectator capacity complete with in-club accommodation, offices, training facilities and changing rooms. The stadium is part of a greater sports-orientated real estate development by WMG estimated at $180 millions.

Part of the sports-oriented development is the Wyndham City Elite Training Facility, to double as the training ground for the club's teams. The facility will be equipped with three pitches including a 5000 person stadium to be used by the upcoming W-League side.

The Wyndham City Council awarded that contract design in July 2021.

Last season Western United played their 2020/21 A-League home games at AAMI Park in Melbourne, GMHBA Stadium in Geelong, MARS Stadium in Ballarat and UTAS Stadium in Launceston with one home match was disputed in Sydney's Leichhardt Oval.

Images: Central Coast Stadium (top) and the concept for the Wyndham City Stadium (below).

20th September 2021 - Sydney Football Stadium redevelopment to see car parking moved from Moore Park’s grass

16th September 2021 - Football Australia invites participation in survey to help with future planning and development

6th September 2021 - New Football Australia board appointments see women in the majority

3rd September 2021 - Australian Professional Leagues announce future women’s football strategy

27th August 2021 - Football NSW hands down penalties following brawl at match in Sydney’s south

23rd August 2021 - Commonwealth Bank backs Football Australia in partnership to elevate women’s game

20th August 2021 - New book explores the ‘Code Wars’ in Australia’s football market

17th August 2021 - Council tenders venue management contract for Central Coast Stadium

5th February 2021 - As operating costs rise Council considers options for Central Coast Stadium

17th August 2020 - NRL warns of ‘strongest possible’ penalties for racial abuse by fans at Central Coast Stadium

4th August 2020 - Owner looks to sell A-League’s Central Coast Mariners

2nd September 2019 - New concert venue planed as part of NSW Central Coast entertainment and cultural precinct

10th January 2017 - Mariners reveal bold development plans for Central Coast Stadium

2nd January 2021 - New Victorian Coronavirus outbreak sees NBL relocate South East Melbourne Phoenix and New Zealand Breakers to Hobart

27th November 2020 - Wellington Phoenix Football Club moves to Wollongong for 2020/21 A-League season

10th September 2018 - Football fan and WelTec graduate takes on Events Manager role at Wellington Phoenix

22nd January 2021 - A-League’s Western United gets planning approval for new Wyndham City Stadium

28th November 2020 - Western United use ‘value capture’ model to drive building of Wyndham Stadium

18th February 2020 - Western United reaches 5,000 members milestone in first A-League season

8th July 2021 - Wyndham City Council awards design services contract for new stadium

27th August 2015 - New management for Wyndham’s Encore Events Centre

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