Gotham FC moves Sunday's NWSL semifinal to Randall's Island's Icahn Stadium over a bad field in Harrison
The top-seeded club will face the Kansas City Current at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15, in a 5,000-seat track stadium in Manhattan instead of its 25,000-seat New Jersey home. Tickets go out in phases through Wednesday.
Photo: Bryan Berlin / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Gotham FC's NWSL semifinal against the Kansas City Current is now at Icahn Stadium on Randall's Island, Sunday, Nov. 15, at 3 p.m., on ABC and ESPN Deportes, the club said Monday.
- The club cited the playing surface at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, N.J., which players and coaches criticized after Sunday's quarterfinal.
- Icahn Stadium holds about 5,000 people versus about 25,000 in Harrison, amNewYork reported.
- Tickets go out in phases: 2026–27 Blueprint members Nov. 9 at 3 p.m., 2028 depositors Nov. 10 at noon, all fans Nov. 11 at 10 a.m.; ticket holders can request a refund until Nov. 10 at 3 p.m.
- The winner plays in the NWSL Championship at Audi Field in Washington on Nov. 21.
Gotham FC's first home playoff semifinal is moving to Manhattan. The club announced Monday, Nov. 9, that its NWSL semifinal against the Kansas City Current will be played at Icahn Stadium on Randall's Island on Sunday, Nov. 15, at 3 p.m., instead of at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, N.J. ABC and ESPN Deportes carry the game.
Why the move
The grass at Sports Illustrated Stadium, the 25,000-seat home of Red Bull New York where Gotham are tenants, has been in poor shape for the club's last two games, amNewYork reported. The league fined Gotham $10,000 over conditions at its Nov. 1 regular-season finale, and coach Juan Carlos Amorós said after Sunday's 1-0 quarterfinal win over Seattle that he felt he almost had to apologize for the pitch. Gotham won that game without a single shot on target, on a Seattle own goal.
A fix that would have stitched artificial fibers into the worst spots of the Bermuda grass was dropped because it might not be done in time, amNewYork reported. Red Bull New York still plays a friendly against Club América on the same field on Saturday.
Club governor Carolyn Tisch Blodgett said Gotham "exhausted every possible avenue" and that the team is "deeply disappointed" so many fans won't be able to attend. Icahn Stadium holds about 5,000, so Gotham gives up roughly 20,000 potential tickets, according to amNewYork.
Tickets
Because of the smaller capacity, tickets go out in phases:
- 2026 and 2027 Blueprint members: Monday, Nov. 9, 3 p.m.
- 2028 depositors: Tuesday, Nov. 10, noon.
- All Gotham FC fans: Wednesday, Nov. 11, 10 a.m.
Fans who already bought semifinal tickets and can't make the new venue can request a full refund until Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 3 p.m., the club says. Presale details go by email to members and subscribers.
What's at stake
Gotham are the top seed after winning their first NWSL Shield, and as reigning league champions and 2026 Challenge Cup winners they are chasing the league's first treble. It's their fourth straight semifinal. The winner plays in the NWSL Championship at Audi Field in Washington on Nov. 21. The club is set to move to Etihad Park in Queens in 2028. Our quarterfinal ticket guide has more on the run.
- Gotham FCGotham FC to Host NWSL Semifinal at Icahn Stadium
- Gotham FCGotham FC Semifinal Match: tickets and venue
- amNewYorkGotham FC forced to move NWSL semifinal match to Icahn Stadium due to poor field conditions
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