The A-Leagues have sparked anger among fans after selling the rights to host its grand finals to the New South Wales government, with Sydney to host the men’s and women’s showpiece events for the next three years in a reported eight-figure deal.
In a departure from tradition for Australian football, the title deciders could potentially be played away from the highest-placed team’s home ground.
The NSW government said the move aimed to leverage recent interest in football off the back of the Socceroos’ successful World Cup campaign and with the Women’s World Cup to be played on home soil in 2023. But the announcement on Monday was greeted with fury by fans of Sydney and non-Sydney clubs alike.
Many fans voiced their displeasure on social media calling it an “absolutely disgraceful call” and “a terrible, terrible decision” that raised the prospect of two teams from outside Sydney contesting the grand final at a Sydney stadium. Melbourne City currently top both A-Leagues ladders.
The Adelaide United and Socceroos star Craig Goodwin said on Twitter he opposed the decision.
“I am a player, but I am also a fan,” he wrote.
I wanted to clear things up publicly. I may be in the video for the @aleaguemen choice to host Grand Finals in Sydney, but I do not support it.
— Craig Goodwin (@craig_goodwin11) December 12, 2022
I am a player, but I am also a fan. pic.twitter.com/e451tZcR98
Travelling supporters would have to stump up the associated costs of accommodation and travel to Sydney – at a time when Australians are facing record high air fares – but the the Australian Professional Leagues (APL), the body that runs the A-Leagues, said it was working with transport and accommodation providers to develop special packages for fans. The leagues’ official hotel partner IHG has committed to offer discounted rates for out-of-town supporters.
“Creating future history for our sport”? The kind where travelling fans will struggle to attend because of the rising cost of living and your stadiums will be filled by predominantly NSW residents whose sides may not even contest the grand final? Enough with the bullshit already. https://t.co/dHLosZCIiv
— Lucy Zelić (@LucyZelic) December 12, 2022
Three-times premiership winners Melbourne Victory expressed disappointment in the decision but said it would work with its members and fans to ensure they could continue to be a part of these games.
“Melbourne Victory’s preference is, and always will be, to play any grand final (that we earn the right to host) in front of our fans at our spiritual home and what we believe to be the best football stadium in Australia, AAMI Park,” a club statement read.
Former Adelaide United player Michael Marrone was among critics of the “short-sighted” move, tweeting that it was “not for the clubs, not for the fans, not for the players”.
Sydney FC’s active support group, The Cove, issued a statement to voice displeasure at the decision, despite the clear advantage given to their club.
“In our game, the term ‘home advantage’ couldn’t be more true,” the statement read. “Whilst of course this decision benefits us, it is completely unfair and unjust to the ret of the league. A home final is a privilege, not a right.”
The message from Western Sydney Wanderers fan group the Red & Black Bloc was the same. “This once again demonstrates the lack of fan consultation,” it said in a statement. “A home grand final is the reward for the effort throughout the season. Earning the right to host the final was our tradition. We urge APL to reverse this decision ASAP.”
The APL chief executive, Danny Townsend, said the move was “a unique opportunity” to build a new tradition for football fans in the style of many other football countries around the world, with a week-long “festival of football” planned in the buildup to the game.
“When you think about a cup final in England, you think about the trip to Wembley, and we want fans in Australia to look forward to the A-Leagues finals in the same way,” Townsend said.
“Because we have certainty about which city will be hosting the final from a long way out, we are able to build a ‘festival of football’ around these major events.”
The women’s grand final will be played on 30 April, with the men’s decider on 3 June. Sydney boasts three premier football stadiums in line for hosting duties – the new $828m Allianz Stadium at Moore Park, CommBank Stadium in Parramatta and Accor Stadium at Olympic Park.
The APL said it expected tens of thousands of fans to descend on Sydney for the finals, with Destination NSW claiming the deal could inject $26m into the state’s economy.
The NSW sport minister, Alister Henskens, claimed the state had the greatest supporter base and the most passionate fans in the country, along with the highest level of football participation and the best venues.
“This new week-long football event will provide football and sports fans with an experience unique to all other codes and cement the A-League grand finals amongst the very best sporting events on our national sporting calendar,” Henskens said.
One of the most memorable men’s grand finals was played at Adelaide Oval in 2016, when 50,119 fans watched Adelaide United beat Western Sydney Wanderers.
No ALW grand final has ever been moved outside the home city of the team that won hosting rights, but since the inaugural ALM grand final the decider has been held away from the host team’s regular home stadium on three occasions.
Central Coast and Newcastle played before a crowd of 36,354, the lowest for a grand final in the competition’s first nine seasons, at the old Sydney Football Stadium in 2008. The Mariners and Western Sydney drew 42,102 to the same ground when they faced off in 2013.
On the most recent occasion, in 2020, only 7,051 saw Sydney FC defeat Melbourne City at CommBank Stadium thanks to Covid restrictions.
