World News – AU – Wollongongs WIN Stadium is the new temporary home of Wellington Phoenix

Wellington Phoenix starts 29. December at Dolphin Stadium in Redcliffe in the 2020-21 A-League season to Brisbane Roar before playing their first game at their temporary new home in round two.

The draw for the upcoming season was published on Tuesday. The Phoenix play each of their 13 home games at WIN Stadium in Wollongong, one of the venues for the NRL Club St. George Illawarra Dragons. However, there will be flexibility to return to Wellington in the event travel restrictions ease.

The first game of the Phoenix at WIN Stadium will take place on 2. January against the reigning champions Sydney FC.

The venue with a capacity of 23. 000 players was previously just one A-League game – a goalless draw between Sydney and Newcastle Jets in 2015 – but was occasionally used as a base for the Sky Blues preseason.

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“We’re looking forward to giving the Wollongong people a show for our home games and becoming part of the community. Our players are very keen to get out there and meet the fans and we want the Wollongong public to really get to know us and what we are about, ”said General Manager David Dome.

The Phoenix moved to Wollongong due to travel restrictions to combat the Covid-19 pandemic, but Dome told Stuff last week that the club would not close the door on a possible return to Wellington.

The club played three straight home games in April and May that could allow the Phoenix to play a number of games in New Zealand before returning to Australia to complete the season. However, this is only possible if travelers are no longer required to spend 14 days in managed isolation.

The Ufuk Talay team have been on the move since beating Melbourne Victory on Jan.. March no longer played in front of their own fans at Sky Stadium.

« We’re building our matchday offering at Sky Stadium as if it is happening, » said Dome. “We’ll have that ready when we drop everything at short notice and have to go back to Wellington to play a game.

« The ideal [scenario] would be to go back to New Zealand and play some games, no doubt about that. ”

The Phoenix have signed 20 players for 2020-21 and are on the verge of signing a deal for former Brighton & Hove Albion striker Tomer Hemed. 18 of those squad members have trained together in Wollongong with striker Ulises Davila and goalkeeper Stefan Marinovic still in isolation.

The Phoenix will be released on Sept.. Got their first shot at newcomer Macarthur FC on January 12th. January against rival Western United.

The club lost their first four games last season but bounced back and finished third – their best result to date – before losing the elimination final to subordinate Perth Glory.

More than half of Phoenix’s home games should start at 7 p.m. (NZT) at the latest. .

The Phoenix will round off the regular season with 26 games for Western Sydney Wanderers on Dec.. May from.

Wellington Phoenix FC, A-League, Sydney FC, WIN Stadium