Gotham FC Advances to NWSL Semifinals Amid Concerns Over Field Quality
Gotham FC’s recent NWSL quarterfinal victory against the Seattle Reign highlighted significant concerns regarding the quality of the playing surface. The team is scheduled to host the semifinals next week on the same field.
During Gotham’s narrow 1-0 win on Sunday, noticeable issues with the pitch at Sports Illustrated Stadium emerged, where Gotham has played since 2020. Large areas of worn grass were evident, with patches of sand visible at the corners and near the goals.
Following the match, Reign head coach Laura Harvey expressed her frustration with the field’s condition. She revealed that the league had imposed a $10,000 fine on Gotham for the poor quality earlier in the week, which was confirmed by various outlets. “Let’s be real, there’s no way a playoff game should be played on that s***,” Harvey commented. “I just can’t believe they’ve allowed it. They knew it last week.”
In response, Gotham head coach Juan Carlos Amorós acknowledged the team’s efforts to improve the pitch, stating that they fell short of acceptable standards. “I feel the obligation to almost apologize for the state of the pitch. I think at this level, in this kind of game, as a league, we should be having a better surface,” he said. “Unfortunately, it wasn’t. But luckily it looks like nobody got hurt.”
Players from both teams also voiced their dissatisfaction with the poor pitch quality. Gotham defender Jess Carter labeled the field “so bad,” whereas Reign midfielder Jess Fishlock referred to the surface as “atrocious.” Gotham midfielder Jaelin Howell added, “It’s pretty sandy out there and a little unstable… obviously, you can’t think about that. The other team has to play on that, too.”
Gotham FC, like many teams in the NWSL, does not control the operations of the stadium, as that responsibility falls to the MLS team, the New York Red Bulls. The maintenance of the pitch has been compromised following recent events, including a Red Bulls game and a rugby match that took place just before last week’s fine.
Next weekend, Gotham, as the No. 1 seed, will face the No. 4-seeded Kansas City Current in the semifinals at Sports Illustrated Stadium, raising further concerns about competing on a subpar field. The Red Bulls, who missed the MLS playoffs, will hold an exhibition match against Club América the day before.
In a future move, Gotham has announced plans to relocate to the new Etihad Park in Queens in 2028, with the stadium set to open next year and to be owned and operated by New York City FC.
This ongoing issue with pitch quality has been a recurring theme in the NWSL, especially at shared venues like San Diego Wave’s Snapdragon Stadium, which drew criticism ahead of the 2023 NWSL Final. Notably, retiring star Megan Rapinoe suffered an Achilles injury during her final professional game there. In 2024, the Wave had to relocate its last season match due to similar pitch concerns.
Despite the challenges, Gotham secured their victory over Seattle after an early own goal by the Reign, accomplishing the feat without recording a single shot on target. Amorós reflected postgame, “Obviously, it was not the best football match you will ever see, that’s for sure. But we found a way to win.”
