Defending champions Gotham FC will host their NWSL semifinal match against the Kansas City Current at Icahn Stadium in New York City, relocating the game from Sports Illustrated Stadium due to poor field conditions. The 5,000-seat venue on Randall's Island features a grass field and track, and previously hosted Gotham in July when SI Stadium was unavailable. "This was an extremely difficult decision," said Gotham FC president of soccer operations Yael Averbuch West. "We felt it was important to prioritize a playing surface that appropriately allows our athletes to perform at their best." Sources told ESPN that executives from Gotham FC, the NWSL, and MLS' New York Red Bulls engaged in talks throughout Sunday night and Monday to find a solution for resodding the field at the stadium, but ultimately could not agree on a feasible remedy. Players and coaches described the field as "atrocious" and well below standards after Gotham won Sunday's quarterfinal there 1-0 without putting a shot on goal.
According to league documents obtained by ESPN, Gotham was supposed to host a semifinal match at SI Stadium if they advanced and the No. 3 seed Washington Spirit also hosted a semifinal. Washington defeated the Portland Thorns 4-1 in Sunday's other quarterfinal. No. 2 seed San Diego Wave FC lost to the Utah Royals on Friday, clearing the path for Washington to host Utah with its win. In the original plan laid out by the league, the Spirit would relocate from Audi Field to play at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, home of the NFL's Washington Commanders, for a Saturday semifinal.
But as Sunday's quarterfinals played out, the Spirit worked with MLS' D. C. United to reschedule an NCAA Division III football game this Saturday and make it possible for the Spirit to play at Audi Field, which will also host the NWSL Championship on Nov. 21.
D. C. United has not confirmed the new time of the football game, but it will take place at Audi Field.
It could kick off Saturday night, following the noon ET NWSL semifinal. One of the Spirit's sponsors helped cover the costs associated with moving the football game. "The quality of the game is not up for debate, so we've made the difficult decision to move to Icahn Stadium on Sunday," said Gotham defender Tierna Davidson in a release Monday. "A smaller stadium means many of you will not be there, and that is the hardest part of this decision. You have turned every ground where we have played into home, and that does not change on Sunday.
We have never needed a perfect setting to make a place ours." Bring everything you have on Sunday, and we will leave it all on the field. The Spirit playing Saturday at Audi Field was not one of the nine potential semifinal possibilities laid out in the NWSL's original plans, according to the documents obtained by ESPN, but it did resolve all conflicts for regular team venues, since Gotham could then play Sunday. The NWSL's national TV slots for the two semifinals could not be changed.
But on Sunday night, attention then turned to whether it was safe to play a semifinal on the sandy, choppy field at SI Stadium. The Red Bulls are scheduled to play a friendly against Mexico...
Source: ESPN Soccer · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing