Victoria University Whitten Oval to host A-League Football on Australia Day

Western United FC and the Western Bulldogs FC have announced that VU Whitten Oval will host an official Hyundai A-League game for the very first time when Western United play at the Footscray Venue on Australia Day.

Victoria University has a longstanding partnership with the Western Bulldogs, spanning more than 15 years. In 2019, a new partnership was formed between Victoria University Polytechnic and Western United FC.

Victoria University is proud to partner with both elite sporting clubs in the west and looks forward to celebrating both forms of football in an Australian first.

Western United will host reigning FFA Cup holders Adelaide United in a Round 16 Hyundai A-League clash at VU Whitten Oval in Footscray on January 26 (kick off 6pm local time).

Western United brings top-class football to the west

Playing at the Footscray venue is part of Western United’s vision to bring top-class football to as many fans in the west as possible. VU Whitten Oval joins Geelong and Ballarat as areas to showcase Western United as a club that represents the entire Western region in the A-League.

“Western United is a club that brings top-class football to the whole community of the greater west, which is why the Green and Black are playing in Geelong and Ballarat this season and have plans in place for a boutique stadium in Tarneit,” said club CEO Chris Pehlivanis.

“We will continue to be a club for all who call the west home as we take this journey together.

“Relocating our Hyundai A-League Round 16 fixture to Whitten Oval gives the club’s growing fanbase an opportunity to taste the Hyundai A-League at another family friendly, community venue in the West.

“We look forward to seeing our fans from across the West at Whitten Oval, which will host Hyundai A-League football for the very first time.”

Bulldogs' CEO lends support

The Round 16 A-League game will kick-off at 6pm on January 26, while the Bulldogs’ AFL players are on the Sunshine Coast for their annual pre-season camp.

“Hosting A-League football at VU Whitten Oval is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the broad capability of our venue and to connect with a new audience,” said Bulldogs’ CEO Ameet Bains.

“We have been able to create a unique, family-friendly atmosphere for sporting events we have hosted at VU Whitten Oval, particularly in the summer months at our AFLW matches.

“We were pleased to work with Western United to make this game happen on Australia Day, and we look forward to helping them to ensure the event is a success.”

A share of the proceeds the Western Bulldogs make from hosting the event will be contributed to the communities impacted by the bushfires across Australia. Western United will match this amount.

More details on the game will be available closer to the day of the event.