Gotham FC Moves Semifinal to Icahn Stadium Over Pitch Concerns

Gotham FC will play its NWSL semifinal against Kansas City Current on Sunday at Icahn Stadium instead of Sports Illustrated Stadium. The club announced its decision on Monday, citing the quality of the playing surface. The decision was made less than a week before the match.

The condition of the pitch became a topic of debate in Gotham's 1-0 quarterfinal win over Seattle Reign. Reign head coach Laura Harvey and captain Jess Fishlock criticized the pitch in harsh terms. Gotham head coach Juan Carlos Amoros apologized for the quality of the field. Before the match, the NWSL fined the club $10,000.

Icahn Stadium is a small venue with a capacity of 5,000, located on Randall's Island in northern Manhattan. Sports Illustrated Stadium has a capacity of 25,000 and is located in Harrison, New Jersey. About 13,000 fans attended the quarterfinal at that stadium. Over the past year and a bit, Gotham has played two matches at Icahn: a 2025 Concacaf W Champions Cup group match and a 3-2 win in July.

Club captain Tierna Davidson said the hardest part of the decision is that some supporters will not be able to attend the match because of the smaller stadium. Public transport access to Icahn is limited to the M35 bus. Walking via the pedestrian bridge and driving are also options. Meanwhile, Red Bull New York will play a friendly against Club America at Sports Illustrated Stadium on Saturday.