Sydney Derby breaks Hyundai A-League Attendance Record

Tonight’s Sydney Derby at ANZ Stadium has set a new Hyundai A-League attendance record with a crowd of 61,880 in full voice as Sydney FC defeated the Western Sydney Wanderers FC in the opening round of the season, Football Federation Australia (FFA) has announced.

 

The figure of 61,880 for the first Sydney Derby at ANZ Stadium eclipsed the previous Hyundai A-League attendance record of 55,436 which was set at the Hyundai A-League 2007 Grand Final at Etihad Stadium between Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United.

 

The hype around the opening weekend of the Hyundai A-League 2016/17 Season signalled the all-time attendance record would be in danger of tumbling, and FFA CEO David Gallop said the attendance figure proved that the Sydney Derby has become one of Australia’s premier ‘must see’ events on the Australian sporting calendar.

 

“The crowd figure at tonight’s Sydney Derby at ANZ Stadium is a clear sign that the Hyundai A-League season is off and running and that there is a huge groundswell of interest in the league this season,” said Gallop.

 

“All those people and families out there involved in football at some level but yet to have a connection with the Hyundai A-League or any of the ten clubs, tonight’s game is evidence of why you’ve gotta have a team”, concluded Gallop.

 

The previous biggest crowd for a Sydney Derby was 41,213 at Allianz Stadium in Round 2 of the Hyundai A-League 2014/15 Season.

 

Hyundai A-League – top five all-time attendances

61,880 – Hyundai A-League 2016/17 Round 1 at ANZ Stadium (Western Sydney Wanderers FC v Sydney FC) 8 October 2016

55,436 – Hyundai A-League 2007 Grand Final at Etihad Stadium (Melbourne Victory v Adelaide United) 18 February 2007

53,273 – Hyundai A-League 2009 Grand Final at Etihad Stadium (Melbourne Victory v Adelaide United) 28 February 2009

51,153 – Hyundai A-League 2014 Grand Final at Suncorp Stadium (Brisbane Roar FC v Western Sydney Wanderers FC) 4 May 2014

50,334 – Hyundai A-League 2012 Grand Final at Suncorp Stadium (Brisbane Roar FC v Perth Glory) 22 April 2012