A-League’s Perth Glory confirm temporary home ground relocation

Perth Glory has advised that A-League team will play 10 of their 13 home games of the 2022/23 Season at Macedonia Park in the suburb of Stirling where the club’s W-League team plays its fixtures.

The club has been forced to relocate to a temporary home due to the ongoing and delayed stadium renovations at the VenuesWest-managed HBF Park, but will return to that venue for three regular-season home fixtures beginning on March 10th.

Advising of the move, Perth Glory Chief Executive, Anthony Radich stated “we have been confronted by a unique set of challenges caused by circumstances completely beyond our control.”

The community-level stadium, home of the NPL WA’s Stirling Lions SC and where Glory’s W-League plays its home fixtures, has a total capacity of around 5,000, with much of that being on grass standing areas surrounding the field. It does have a 750-capacity main grandstand.

Radich commented “our members and fans were our primary consideration throughout the decision-making process and there is no perfect outcome.

“We have worked tirelessly to ensure that our members, partners and fans are able to attend games at a venue which is of a rectangular orientation and fit for football.

“As well as needing a rectangular venue, we wanted to avoid having to play ‘home’ fixtures on the east coast given that our members, partners and fans have been deprived of normality in terms of home games for the past two years.

“Obviously there are major financial implications for our club and we are discussing with the (Western Australian) Government potential compensation for loss of access to HBF Park.

“We’re pleased to say the (Western Australian) Government is looking to provide significant financial support, match day/event and temporary infrastructure support to enable us to host home matches at Macedonia Park.”

A-Leagues Commissioner Greg O’Rourke emphasised the importance of Glory not being forced to relocate home games yet again, adding “the impact of this construction delay is considerable on Perth Glory, its Members, sponsors and corporate partners.

“It was vital to ensure they were able play in their home city.”

The news was also warmly welcomed by Stirling Macedonia Football Club President, Luke Pavlos, who commented “Macedonia Park was used by the Perth Kangaroos who were the forerunners to Perth Glory in the early 1990s … and the club was, of course, created by two Stirling residents in Nick Tana and Paul Afkos.

“So the fact that (Perth Glory) will be playing at Macedonia Park in the City of Stirling creates a real sense of nostalgia.

“We are looking forward to working with Perth Glory, VenuesWest and the City of Stirling to deliver an experience that will be second to none and bring back some of those early-days memories when other teams feared the trip to Perth due to the atmosphere created by the home fans.”

Significant temporary infrastructure improvements will be made to render Macedonia Park fit for A-League football, including the addition of temporary seating to build its capacity, pitch renovation, additional parking and a temporary lighting upgrade and the Western Australian Government has agreed to assist in implementing these improvements.

As this work will take time to complete, the Australian Professional Leagues (APL) has had to amend the club’s season fixtures.

The original first two home games of the A-League Men’s campaign, v Central Coast Mariners on Sunday 23rd October and v Brisbane Roar on Sunday 13th November, will be rescheduled at Macedonia Park for later in the season, thereby ensuring that the club retains its 13 scheduled home fixtures.

The first home game will now take place on Saturday 10th December at 7.30pm WST against Western United.

Images: Perth Glory will play 10 of their 13 A-League home games of the 2022/23 Season at the 5,000 capacity Macedonia Park (top) and the Perth Glory flag (below).