50 day countdown begins for Wanderers v Leeds at Bankwest Stadium
Julian Keith
Today marks 50 days to go until the historic first football game at Bankwest Stadium, when a new-look Western Sydney Wanderers squad faces storied English club Leeds United on Saturday 20 July.
The game will also mark the first time the Wanderers take to the pitch that they will call home for all A-League games next season as they move back to Parramatta.
To celebrate 50 days to go, fans can get $50 B Reserve tickets for the next 50 hours – that’s a saving of $20! Head here.
The new home ground will be met with a new team as the Wanderers go through a transformation under second-year coach Markus Babbel. Already the Wanderers have signed Swiss duo Pirmin Schwegler and Daniel Lopar for the upcoming season.
And welcoming the Wanderers home will be a sea of Red and Black packed into Bankwest Stadium.
Wanderers CEO John Tsatsimas said the match was a huge milestone for the club and its supporters in Western Sydney.
“We cannot wait to see our wonderful members and fans turn Bankwest Stadium Red & Black for our opening match at our new home against Leeds United,” said Tsatsimas.
“With only 50 days to go until our official return to Wanderland this is an incredible opportunity for Western Sydney to host a world class match in a world class venue with our world class fans in our own backyard.”
Red and Black Active supporters will also get to experience the Stadium’s safe standing area at the game, with 1260 seats to be taken out in the northern grandstand directly behind the goals.
But the Wanderers’ faithful won’t have it all their own way as more than 6000 Leeds United supporters have already secured their seats in the southern end of the Stadium.
Leeds announced this week that celebrated manager Marcelo Bielsa has signed on for another season and that he will lead the squad to Sydney.
Bielsa, whose storied career has seen him manage in his home of Argentina, Chile, Spain, France and now England, is much beloved by the Leeds faithful and is determined to restore the club to the Premier League after narrowly missing out this season.