The AFLW Literally Had To Move A Game To A New Stadium Because It Was So Popular

It's Marvel-lous news. 🏈

Thanks to “unprecedented” ticket sales, a blockbuster Women’s AFL match has been moved to one of Australia’s biggest stadiums.

With the addition of four new teams this season, the AFLW is now represented by 18 clubs, the same amount as the AFL.

Two of the new teams, Essendon and Hawthorn, were scheduled to play their first ever match against each other at ETU Stadium in Port Melbourne, which has a capacity of 10,000, on Saturday 27 August.

Once tickets were released, the game was sold out within two hours.

The popularity of the match has meant the game will now be played at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium, which has a capacity of more than 53,000.

According to the AFL’s General Manager of Women’s football, Nicole Livingstone, it’s a big win for women’s football in Australia.

“We know the appetite for NAB AFLW is huge, but the strength of sales across all nine Round One matches and having an inaugural game sell out in a day is amazing.”

Nicole said it’s a huge moment for both teams and for fans of the sport in general.

“To be able to see two teams debut to a packed Marvel Stadium is the stuff dreams are made of.”

There’s a lot of excitement around the AFLW this season.

For the first time, there will be a full roster of 18 teams, and, the league starts in August this year, after having been played over the summer months for the last six seasons.

“The league is whole; matches are being played in front of thousands of fans and girls across the country are aspiring to be elite players when they grow up,” Nicole said.

“We’re in an incredible place coming into our seventh season and I couldn’t be prouder of every single person who got us here.”

Along with Essendon and Hawthorn, Sydney and Port Adelaide will also have their inaugural season and will play each other on Sunday 28 August.

Tickets to the big clash at Marvel Stadium can be bought here for just $10.

Header image: AFLW