Gotham FC Shifts NWSL Semifinal Due to 'Atrocious' Pitch
Concerns over the playing surface at Sports Illustrated Stadium force a move to a smaller Manhattan venue for the high-stakes match against Kansas City Current.
Gotham FC has announced it will move Sunday's NWSL semifinal against the Kansas City Current to Icahn Stadium in Manhattan, as CBS Sports first reported. The decision follows severe criticism of the pitch at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, N.J., where Gotham played its quarterfinal win over the Seattle Reign.
During the quarterfinal, Seattle Reign captain Jess Fishlock described the surface as "atrocious," while head coach Laura Harvey called it "shit" in an interview with ESPN. Gotham midfielder Jaelin Howell characterized the field as "unstable" and "sandy." Gotham head coach Juan Carlos Amoros apologized for the surface quality, and the NWSL fined the club $10,000 leading up to the quarterfinal, as reported by CBS Sports.
Gotham is a secondary tenant at Sports Illustrated Stadium, which is owned by Hudson County and operated by primary tenant Red Bull New York. CBS Sports reports the venue recently hosted a rugby doubleheader, and Red Bull New York is scheduled to play a friendly there this Saturday against Club America.
Captain Tierna Davidson stated that the field was not the standard the league, fans, or club deserve. The move to Icahn Stadium significantly reduces capacity, dropping from the 25,000 seats available at Sports Illustrated Stadium—which saw nearly 13,000 attendees for the quarterfinal—to just 5,000 seats on Randall's Island.
CBS Sports notes that logistical hurdles have plagued the NWSL playoffs, often because teams are secondary tenants. For example, the Washington Spirit had to navigate a scheduling conflict at Audi Field, which is owned and operated by D.C. United, due to a Division III college football game.