CITY are expecting two bumper home crowds to kick off their league campaign after the fixtures for the new season were released yesterday.

The Bantams will host promoted Blackpool on the opening day on August 5 and, after a trip to Gillingham, welcome relegated Blackburn on August 19.

Chief operating officer James Mason said he was hopeful of two big gates, adding that the Rovers clash could attract over 20,000.

"It is always nice to start the season at home and get that advantage to give yourself a chance of hopefully getting three points on the board," said Mason.

"We expect that Blackpool will bring a good number of fans. I know they have had problems at home behind the scenes but they have still travelled relatively well away.

"It is not too far for them to come and we hope that all our new season-ticket holders will be there, so we will be aiming for a crowd of over 19,000 on the first day.

"To follow Blackpool with Blackburn at home should attract another big crowd.

"They are a recent Premier League club, who will come to Valley Parade as one of the early favourites to go straight back up. They will travel in numbers and I would imagine that would be the first crowd over 20,000 of the season."

City face early Yorkshire derbies at home to Rotherham (September 16) and Doncaster (September 30), while they have two successive Valley Parade fixtures in a packed Christmas schedule, with Peterborough the visitors on Boxing Day.

The Bantams will end their season with a trip to last year's League One play-off rivals Scunthorpe on May 5.

Meanwhile, details of a pre-season friendly involving City in Germany appeared on social media yesterday but the club have yet to confirm their plans.