No. 1 Gotham FC is on the move. The team is relocating Sunday’s NWSL semifinal against No. 4 Kansas City from New Jersey’s Sports Illustrated Stadium to NYC’s Icahn Stadium.
The team cited poor pitch quality as its primary motivation, responding to mounting player and staff complaints in recent weeks.
“We felt it was important to prioritize a playing surface that appropriately allows our athletes to perform at their best,” President of Soccer Operations Yael Averbuch West said in a team statement.
While Icahn Stadium features a manicured grass field, it holds just 5,000 seats. That’s a steep drop from the Bats’ 25,000-capacity home venue.
Gotham FC currently rents SI Stadium from MLS side NY Red Bulls. However, it's planning a permanent move to Queens’s 25,000-seat Etihad Stadium in 2028.
“A smaller stadium means many of you will not be there, and that is the hardest part,” said captain Tierna Davidson. “You have turned every ground where we have played into home, and that does not change on Sunday.”
