Washington Spirit to host NWSL semifinal at Audi Field after venue scramble
The Washington Spirit will host their semifinal game against the Utah Royals at Audi Field next Saturday at noon ET. The decision comes as the No. 3 Spirit advanced as the highest seed on their side of the bracket after defeating the Portland Thorns 4-1 on Sunday. However, hosting at their typical home venue, Audi Field, wasn’t a guarantee. The Spirit’s alternative option was to play their…
The Washington Spirit will host their NWSL semifinal against the Utah Royals at Audi Field on Saturday, following a venue scramble. The Spirit, the third-highest seed in their bracket, advanced after defeating the Portland Thorns 4-1 on Sunday. However, their typical Audi Field venue was not guaranteed, as another game was scheduled for that day at Northwest Stadium, 10 miles away.
While this would have kept the Spirit in their home market, it would have required fans to relocate on short notice. The Spirit, along with D.C. United, resolved the conflict, and the match will be played at Audi Field at noon ET. The league had to prioritize venue availability for the semifinals due to CBS and ABC national television windows and the limited flexibility to move matches without creating other problems.
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