The Home of the Matildas

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The Home of the Matildas
The Home of the Matildas
Location Bundoora, Melbourne
Coordinates 37°43′24″S145°02′31″E / 37.72320°S 145.04198°E / -37.72320; 145.04198
Capacity 3,000 (800 seated)
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Built2023
Opened3 July 2023
Construction cost $57 million
Tenants
Australia women's national soccer team (2023–present)
Melbourne Victory (A-League Women) (2023–present)

The Home of the Matildas is a soccer stadium in Melbourne, Australia. It is the home base of the Australia women's national soccer team, and the home of Melbourne Victory in the A-League Women in Bundoora, Melbourne, Australia. It has an 800 capacity grandstand, and a total venue capacity of 3,000. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

History

Background and host selection

Since early 2019, Football Victoria proposed a home base for the Australia women's national soccer team (nicknamed Matildas) following interests from municipalities across Victoria to host the facility. [4] A $200,000 grant from the Andrews Government was funded into the establishment of the venue and state-of-the-art facility to host training camps and elite pathway programs for national teams, representative teams and coaching/development programs. The bids to host the venue were short-listed on 19 June 2019 and were between Brimbank, Casey, Darebin, Maroondah and La Trobe University (Bundoora). [5] The Victorian Government further provided $1.5 million into plan and design for The Home of the Matildas on 30 August 2020. [6] The host was announced as Bundoora and La Trobe University on 16 May 2021 and allowed the beginning of construction onwards, [7] with construction due to be completed prior to the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. [8] The project is expected to cost $116 million, with the Federal government contributing $15 million, [9] and the Victorian government allocating $101.5 million towards the project, alongside the $1.5 million that was spent on planning. The upgrades include a marquee pitch with grandstand seating; four other pitches (Hybrid, natural grass, synthetic), a futsal court, and high-performance facilities including a gymnasium and wet recovery area, medical and rehabilitation centre, meeting areas and player lounge.

Official opening

The Home of the Matildas was officially opened on 3 July 2023 by Victorian Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos as the first and biggest soccer infrastructure projects in Australian history. [10] On 31 August 2023, the venue was selected to host Melbourne Victory's stand-alone A-League Women matches. [11]

The Victory played their first home match at the venue on 15 October 2023, with the match attracting an attendance of 2,588.

Structure and facilities

Described as a "world-class facility" by Football Victoria, The Home of the Matildas features a FIFA and AFC compliant elite training facility with an extra five pitches involving two Premium pitches and three standard FIFA pitches. [12] The grandstand features 800 seats along with a terrace/balcony for standing rooms and overlooking the main pitch. The indoor interiors of the venue features a high-performance gym, sports science/high performance with also an elite-level recovery area, multiple change rooms including a circular locker room for the Matildas and a referee change room, function spaces, public cafe, dining room for players, lounge, study spaces, 2 sleep rooms, property office, and administration office for Football Victoria.

The pitch is expected to be utilized by the Matilda's for 140 days each year, [13] with the pitch being used for 6000 hours annually by La Trobe University students for around 20 hours a week, grassroots clubs, and training for volunteers and administrators. These new upgrades are expected to encourage research collaboration between high-performance expects and academics at La Trobe University. [14]

This area will also incorporate the Victorian State Rugby centre, which will possess a show pitch with grandstand seating, two additional pitches, and high performance facilities including a gymnasium, sport science, medical and recovery areas and a training and match day home for the Melbourne Rebels’ Super W team.

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References

  1. ↑ "First glimpse of The Home of the Matildas at La Trobe University". Football Victoria. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  2. ↑ "Women's football gets a big boost with new Home of the Matildas". Architecture and Design. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  3. ↑ Martelli, Joel. "Construction of Matildas state-of-the-art facility begins". Only Sports. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  4. ↑ "Victoria leads bid to create the home of the Westfield Matildas". Football Victoria . 6 March 2019.
  5. ↑ "Football Victoria short-lists bidders for national Home of the Matildas". Football Victoria . 19 June 2019.
  6. ↑ "Victorian Government funding to deliver plans for Home of the Matildas at La Trobe University". Football Victoria . 30 August 2020.
  7. ↑ "Victorian Government investments secures The Home of The Matildas". Football Victoria . 16 May 2021.
  8. ↑ "Football Australia and Football Victoria (FV) celebrate the Victorian Government's announcement confirming their investment to make the world-class Home of The Matildas at La Trobe University, Bundoora, a reality". Archived from the original on 15 May 2021.
  9. ↑ Lynch, Michael. "Home of Matildas to be in Melbourne after $116m government backing". Brisbane Times. Archived from the original on 16 May 2021.
  10. ↑ "The Home of the Matildas Opens Marking a Historic Moment for Australian Football". populous.com. 4 July 2023.
  11. ↑ "The Home of the Matildas will host Melbourne Victory's women's team". Melbourne Victory . 31 August 2023.
  12. ↑ "Project overview". Football Victoria . Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  13. ↑ "Matildas to get 'world class' football base in Melbourne's north ahead of 2023 World Cup". ABC News. Archived from the original on 16 May 2021.
  14. ↑ "Soccer's World-Beating Matildas To Call Melbourne Home". Archived from the original on 15 May 2021.
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