Interest in the Westfield W-League is at an all-time high if crowd numbers for the opening round of the new season are any indicator.
There was no questioning the quality of football on display over the weekend, while off the field several new benchmarks were set.
Saturday’s opening contest of the 2016/17 season saw a match-up between two of the competition’s great rivals as Brisbane Roar welcomed Sydney FC, where there was a host of Westfield Matildas star on show. Brisbane’s football fans certainly appreciated the occasion with 3,105 spectators flocking to Spencer Park – a new competition high for a regular-season stand-alone fixture.
The numbers continued to impress on Sunday. Two new club records were also set and it was Adelaide United who set the ball rolling with an attendance of 3,260 at Coopers Stadium for the visit of Melbourne Victory as part of a Hyundai A-League double-header. Later in the day 2,011 supporters were on hand in Perth as the Glory welcomed Western Sydney Wanderers.
The round also achieved the second-highest aggregate with the figure of 9,009 bettered only when the Westfield W-League crowd record of 14,068 was set by Melbourne Victory at Etihad Stadium in the 2014/15 season.
The stand-alone crowd record remains 4,554 for the maiden Westfield W-League Grand Final at Ballymore in 2009.
