Western Sydney Wanderers elevated the old Parramatta Stadium to 'famous' status and they had a right to play at the new Bankwest Stadium recently, according to ex-A-League coach John Kosmina.
The Wanderers played their last home-and-away game of the season at ANZ Stadium against Melbourne Victory on Saturday night in front of only 7,919 people, with Bankwest being used by rugby union side NSW Waratahs, which attracted a crowd of 10,605.
Kosmina believes the Wanderers should have played the Victory match at Bankwest because their role in helping create demand for the new venue was significant - and was a greater influence than NRL side Parramatta Eels.
"Western Sydney Wanderers actually made the old Parramatta Stadium famous. They made it more famous than the Parramatta Eels did," Kosmina said on Fox Sports' Sunday Shootout.
"They got the crowds. They started the whole active support stuff at the venue. It became an event to go to Parramatta Stadium to watch the Wanderers.
"Everybody wanted to go [see the Wanderers] from all different walks of life. They are the ones who created the demand for a new stadium - helped create the demand - so they should have had a right to play there [Saturday night]."
The Wanderers won't play their first match at Bankwest against Premier League hopefuls Leeds United on July 20, with fellow tenant Eels making their debut at the venue on Easter Monday.
Wanderers legend Mark Bridge played his last A-League match on Saturday night and Kosmina believes it should have been organised to send him off in the new stadium - possibly by swapping the match with the Waratahs.
"It shouldn't have even been a question. It should have been organised straight away [for the Wanderers to play at Bankwest]. They knew when the stadium was going to open," he said.
"I don't know if someone did ask the question - did anyone check with Western Sydney if they did or not? Could they have swapped the fixtures? Could the Waratahs have gone to ANZ? It would have been better for them."
