The all-time Liberty A-League attendance record for a single round has been broken just two games into the 2023-24 season, with more than 17,000 fans attending the F3 Derby and Sydney Derby combined.
Four records were broken on the league’s opening night, headlined by two standalone Liberty A-League Women’s attendance records and two all-time round attendance records set, with four matches to go.
11,471 fans attended the Sydney Derby at Allianz Stadium to see Cortnee Vine in her ‘homecoming’, after becoming an Australian national hero during the FIFA Women’s World Cup beating the record set at the 2022-23 Grand Final.
The F3 Derby between the Liberty A-League Women’s newest addition, Central Coast Mariners, and the Newcastle Jets, welcomed 5,735 fans, which broke the regular season attendance record until the Sydney derby broke that record again just three hours later.
The total of 17,206 fans breaks a nine-year record, when 15,955 attended in 2014, which included some double-headers and beats the round record for standalone games of 11,595, set in Round 1 of the 2022-23.
With four more games to go – including Perth Glory v Western United at Macedonia Park, Wellington Phoenix v Melbourne City at Sky Stadium, Adelaide United v Canberra United at Coopers Stadium and Melbourne Victory v Brisbane Roar at the Home of the Matildas – the record is set to be beaten again on the second day of Round 1.
RECORDS BROKEN IN ROUND 1
- All-time highest attendance figure for standalone regular season Liberty A-League game: Sydney FC v Western Sydney Wanderers (11,471)
- All-time highest attendance figure of any Liberty A-League game, including finals: Sydney FC v Western Sydney Wanderers (11,471)
- All-time attendance record for any round in Liberty A-League history: 17,206 after just two games
- All-time attendance record for any round in Liberty A-League history, including Isuzu UTE A-League double-headers
CORTNEE VINE: Matildas’ World Cup icon receives hero’s welcome on return to A-Leagues: ‘Look at this effect’
The previous standalone match record was set in April 2023 in the Liberty A-League Women Grand Final at CommBank Stadium where 9,519 fans turned out to see Sydney FC win against first-year-finalists Western United. The previous standalone record for a game in the normal season (not including finals) was set by Wellington Phoenix in November 2022 with 5215 fans.
Former Matilda and A-Leagues striker Grace Gill was part of the commentary team for Saturday night’s Sydney Derby – and when the record-breaking crowd figure was confirmed, she summarised exactly what the moment meant for Australian football.
“It fills my heart with joy hearing that,” said Network 10 commentator and former A-Leagues star Grace Gill.
“17,000 fans in one day for the Liberty A-League. That’s eyes on our game. That’s eyes on these wonderful players… (these) are really momentous times in our game.”
Nick Garcia, Commissioner of the A-Leagues said: “Our plan for the FIFA Women’s World Cup started more than two years ago and today, we have three new women’s teams in the league, a full home and away season of 22-rounds, and an unprecedented 198% growth in memberships across the league.
“Playing the opening round in mostly major stadia was part of a strategy to create new experiences and connect with more fans, and we are delighted to see the round record broken on day one, in just two matches.”
Fans can watch every Liberty A-League Women’s match live and free on 10 Play, and live on Paramount+.
