More games than ever before are set to be played in major stadiums in the upcoming Barclays WSL campaign, as clubs continue to adapt to the growing popularity of the game.
Arsenal broke the WSL attendance record last season as they welcomed 60,160 people to the Emirates Stadium for their clash against Manchester United in February. The 2023/24 campaign in its entirety brought in 717,721 people across all games, surpassing the season before at 689,297.
Clubs have since recognised the need to give fans increased access to games as women’s football continues to grow in popularity. Leicester City and Aston Villa will share their club’s main stadium with the respective men’s sides for every home league fixture, while Arsenal will play another eight WSL games at the Emirates Stadium and potentially at least three in the Champions League too.
Whilst not every club has made the same commitment, they’ve certainly made the necessary arrangements to house more games at their major stadiums, thus playing a part to grow the game.
Chelsea have confirmed they will play three home games at Stamford Bridge, with the rest of their fixtures hosted at Kingsmeadow in Kingston upon Thames which has a capacity of 4,850.
The club’s Champions League semi-final second leg against Barcelona last season was played in front of a sellout crowd at the Bridge, drawing in 39,398 people.
Stamford Bridge fixtures
Like Chelsea, City will host three WSL games at the club’s major venue…the Etihad Stadium.
The rest of their fixtures will be played at the Joie Stadium across the street on the Etihad Campus, a 7,000-capacity facility used by the women’s first-team and the men’s Elite Development Squad.
Etihad Stadium fixtures
Arsenal have set the standard when it comes to nurturing an engaged fanbase, drawing large crowds whenever they play at the Emirates Stadium and breaking records along the way.
The Gunners made history last season after back-to-back sellouts, taking their average league attendance to 31,428. Arsenal are current scheduled for 11 games at the Emirates in 2024/25, eight of which are in the WSL. Three others depend on qualifying for the Champions League group stage.
Meadow Park, with a 4,500 capacity will host only three WSL home games: Crystal Palace, West Ham and Leicester City, which are among the least glamorous fixtures on the calendar.
Emirates Stadium fixtures
Three of Liverpool’s fixtures will be played at Anfield this season, but just as excitingly, all of their other home matches will be played at different, bigger venue, than in 2023/24.
The club confirmed earlier this year that they’d signed a ten-year lease to relocate from Prenton Park in Birkenhead, home of Tranmere Rovers, to the 18,000-capacity Totally Wicked Stadium in St Helens.
Anfield fixtures
Manchester United will play the majority of their home games at Leigh Sports Village, but have three fixtures set for Old Trafford, which has hosted WSL fixtures each season since 2020/21.
Marc Skinner’s team will open the season against West Ham, who have been the opponent twice before, but will be hoping for a very different outcome to the humiliating 6-0 club record defeat at the hands of Chelsea in the final game of last season.
Spurs created history at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last season, with a victory that saw them secure their spot in the FA Cup final.
The club will be hoping to recreate that magic again in the three fixtures they’ve scheduled to take place at the venue in 2024/25. Spurs will otherwise play their home matches at Brisbane Road, which has a much smaller capacity of 9,271.
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium fixtures
Aston Villa announced this summer that Villa Park will now host all of their WSL home games.
Walsall’s Poundland Bescot Stadium will serve as a secondary venue and host any remaining fixtures.
Villa Park fixtures
Since 2021, Leicester have used the King Power Stadium as their primary home and that will see them play all 11 WSL home games this season at the famous venue.
The Foxes otherwise keep the Pirelli Stadium in Burton upon Trent as a back-up for potential clashes with the men’s schedule, playing one league fixture there last season, as well as a couple of cup ties.
King Power Stadium fixtures
Everton, Brighton, West Ham and Crystal Palace are yet to reveal which, if any, of their home fixtures will be played at their club’s major stadium.
As it stands, Everton will play their home games at Walton Hall Park, West Ham at the Chigwell Construction Stadium and newly promoted Crystal Palace at the VBS Community Stadium. Meanwhile, Brighton are at the Broadfield Stadium in Crawley.
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