Man City manager Nick Cushing hopes the success and publicity of playing at the Etihad Stadium will translate into bigger crowds going to watch at the Academy Stadium – a 7,000-capacity ground situated right next to the men’s ground.
“This was an occasion for us to showcase our women’s team,” Cushing said.
“Hopefully we can drive a lot of people into our stadium. We want the fans to consistently come to watch.
“The logistics of playing two professional teams in the same stadium is so tight. We probably couldn’t realistically do that. We are excited to see where our crowds go. I thought the standard of the game was exceptional.”
City last season had the second biggest average attendance in the WSL of 1,409, with only Chelsea attracting more (1,864) to their Kingsmeadow home – a ground that holds 4,850, which they share with League One side AFC Wimbledon.
Head of women’s football at City, Gavin Makel, said playing at the Etihad will remain a novelty – although, the club is keen to take games to the 55,000 capacity stadium when the occasion warrants.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, manager of Manchester United’s men’s team, was there to support his club on their WSL debut, with Bristol City also attracting support from their men’s team with Benik Afobe and Kasey Palmer both in the crowd of 3,041 at Ashton Gate to watch their female counterparts.
“We saw an opportunity with it being the men’s international break, the start of the season off the back of the World Cup and having the first Manchester derby in the professional era of the game,” Makel told Sportsweek on BBC Radio 5 live.
“We felt that we would get a bumper crowd if we played at the Etihad, and obviously with the crowd that we did have, that justified the decision.
“But realistically we will carry on playing at the Academy Stadium and we will aim to fill that 7,000 capacity stadium out first before we even start talking about playing on a regular basis within the Etihad.”
BBC Sport has launched #ChangeTheGame this summer to showcase female athletes in a way they never have been before. Through more live women’s sport available to watch across the BBC this summer, complemented by our journalism, we are aiming to turn up the volume on women’s sport and alter perceptions. Find out more here.