The Home of the Matildas

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The Home of the Matildas

Address	Sports Dr, Bundoora VIC 3083
Location	Bundoora, Melbourne
Coordinates	37°43′24″S 145°02′31″E / 37.72320°S 145.04198°E / -37.72320; 145.04198
Public transit	Tram route 86
Capacity	3,000 (800 seated)
Record attendance	2,588 (Melbourne Victory v Brisbane Roar, 15 October 2023)
Field shape	Rectangular
Surface	Grass
Construction
Built	2023
Opened	3 July 2023
Years active	2023–present
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]

History[edit]

Background and host selection[edit]

La Trobe University had been the host of Melbourne City FC's City Football Academy, the club training facility in the southern edge of the University precinct at a cost of $15 million. They remained there until moving to a new facility at Casey Fields, with the Bundoora facility demolished at the closure in 2021.

In 2019 Football Victoria proposed a home base for the Australia women's national soccer team, The Matildas to be built in Victoria after attracting interest from municipalities across the state.^[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 facility cost of $42.29 million was funded within the grants for the wider La Trobe University Sports Park precinct. Government grants for the precinct included $15 million from the Federal Government, $101 million from the Victorian State Government and $5 million from the City of Banyule Council. The first two stages of the Sports Park precinct were funded by the University at a cost of $80 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[edit]

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[edit]

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.

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• The Home of the Matildas – Football Victoria