Gotham FC relocates NWSL semifinal to smaller venue, citing 'concerns about the quality of the playing surface' at Sports Illustrated Stadium

In a surprising decision, Gotham FC has opted to relocate their NWSL semifinal match to a smaller venue following concerns regarding the pitch quality at their home stadium, Sports Illustrated Stadium. The NWSL revealed on Monday that Gotham will host the Kansas City Current at Icahn Stadium, a 5,000-seat venue, with kickoff scheduled for 3 p.m. ET on Sunday. Gotham, the No. 1 seed, was guaranteed to host the semifinal after their quarterfinal victory over the Seattle Reign on Sunday.

Gotham's officials, including governor Carolyn Tisch Blodgett and president of soccer operations Yael Averbuch West, expressed regret over the move, calling it "an extremely difficult decision." They emphasized their players' right to host the semifinal and their fans' chance to be part of the historic moment. However, they stated that the team and fans deserved a professional playing surface and had to prioritize field conditions.

The decision comes amid the stadium's apparent field degradation, with players and coaches from both teams criticizing its "atrocious" condition. Gotham head coach Juan Carlos Amorós expressed his obligation to apologize for the field's state, while Reign head coach Laura Harvey mentioned Gotham had been fined $10,000 by the league for the poor pitch quality during their regular-season finale.

Following the quarterfinal, the Washington Spirit, hosting the Utah Royals in the other semifinal, will play at Audi Field on Saturday.

This move follows a similar situation during the WNBA Finals when the Atlanta Dream had to play a Thursday afternoon game due to field quality issues at their shared venue, Snapdragon Stadium. Gotham FC will now play their semifinal at Icahn Stadium, a New York City-owned venue on Randalls Island, where Gotham played one regular-season game this year due to scheduling conflicts.