Forget about rugby league or AFL, Western Sydney Wanderers FC are clearly the most popular team in the west of Sydney.
Statistics revealed in Tuesday’s Sydney Morning Herald show the Wanderers have sold more full memberships than any other football club of any code in the region.
The report revealed the Hyundai A-League club have sold 2000 more than individual season tickets than Parramatta Eels, Penrith Panthers, Wests Tigers, Canterbury Bulldogs, and GWS Giants.
The figures show just how much the Wanderers have caught the imagination of the locals, still more than a month out from beginning just their third season.
The Wanderers are set to hit their 16,000 season ticket-holder limit in the next fortnight, with more than 15,300 of last year’s members retaining their seats.
The incredible demand has seen some fans pay up to $80 to join a waiting list for a season ticket, while Wanderers officials are offering to issue non-ticketed memberships to supporters.
Pirtek Stadium currently has a capacity of less than 22,000, with the Wanderers already forced to re-design the seating plan to allow more fans in.
Both the Wanderers – and co-tenants Parramatta Eeels – are lobbying the NSW government to improve the facilities and capacity of the arena up to 30,000.
The team has just completed an extraordinary win in the quarter finals of the Asian Champions League against Guangzhou Evergrande.
Tony Popovic’s men are now into the semi-finals against FC Seoul.
