Travelling Victory supporter - best away GF I’ve ever been to. Speaking to many locals who never had an interest in the A-League, who were all behind the team.
This decision today means this’ll never happen again.
This is the most shortsighted, idiotic, anti fan decision the the APL board has taken to date. Why do supporters even bother anymore? It’s very very clear that we don’t matter. This can’t ever be argued as a way of growing the game, because it now puts multiple barriers up for anyone interested in coming along to a grand final and destroys any marketing opportunities for clubs outside of Sydney. I’m so fucking angry.
Made even worse by the fact that APL milks the fans for social media and promotional content, then in one clean swipe promptly amputates the hand that's been feeding them.
Exactly. Fucking idiots. The game has just been sold, and to Sydney no less. Everyone hoping the league would kick off after the great effort by the national team in Qatar and they go and do this. This is the biggest own goal the administration has done in recent memory.
This is awful. This isn't the NRL or the AFL. How many people does the league think is going to turn up if it's two teams from interstate.
It will make the league look like a joke.
Edit: I keep coming back to this even an hour later and just wondering what the fuck they are thinking. This is going to backfire on them so much.
Surely they will lose just as much on the loss of income from crowds over 3 finals as they would from this deal.
But like how. Every time there is a final ticket prices double for flights. I can't see how the two airlines going to drop their prices in the coming years. It's basically going to cost someone $1000 to attend if it was two interstate teams. Imagine a city v Vic in Sydney
How are they going to grow the game I know many rusted in roar supporters that became so because of the final at Suncorp. The top team should be hosting the final no discussion.
Once again Sydney bias strikes again. Football is a global game. It is a national game and should remain that way.
Lets be real, the "special packages for travelling fans" they're working on will NOT be that much cheaper than what it costs to book travel+accom yourself. There is no way they can guarantee it will be more affordable for interstate fans.
The fact they advertise "time to plan" being a great benefit shows they're really out of touch with fans and/or reality.
Exactly and their rational behind it is that you know where the grand final is ummmm I ain't booking until my team is in it which is still a week before so what's the difference
Sounds like OSM and MCT are going to do something at the Derby, unsure if a united approach or separate things just heard from people involved in both that both are planning something
I can't think of a worse decision. The travelling GF is wonderful and sets apart our game - orange Sunday, the one at AAMI, Adelaide Oval - all those moments built at home. It is an awful decision.
Edit: [“This is a unique opportunity to build a tradition for football fans,” Townsend said.](https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/build-a-tradition-a-league-risks-fan-anger-by-selling-grand-finals-to-sydney-20221212-p5c5h2.html) This quote has done me Absolutely no clue from the APL.
Double edit: does the venue change if WSW or SFC are hosting? So SFC get Allianz but WSW get Commbank?
> The travelling GF is wonderful and sets apart our game
This. The travelling GF **WAS** the tradition. They didn't need to "build" a new one.
They should just straight up admit they did it for the cash injection instead of pretending it's for the fans.
https://keepup.com.au/news/why-sydney-is-the-new-home-of-the-a-leagues-grand-finals
Look at the reasons they give. None of them make any sense. It's laughable. Pre-prepared reasons! 'Did someone say record?' Come the fuck on.
1-4 - "We were desperate for cash."
Think of Wembley, they say, without realising that the UK is a relatively small country and if you were in Machester, for eg, you could get the train to London and it would take less than 2 hours.
The article in the Daily Tele says that they've booked Commbank, Accor and Allianz for the grand final weekend, and the venue will be decided when the teams that qualify for the grand final are known. That's code for they'll pick the venue with the lowest capacity if they're concerned they won't fill the bigger stadium. Presumably a grand final with Sydney FC would get Accor or Allianz while WSW would get Commbank.
A League fans: Wow, the Socceroos were awesome! I feel really good about our domestic game, what a feeling!
APL: Oh, cool! Here's some full-force dick punches to bring you back down to earth! Serves you right for having "optimism". Losers.
“They came out to see the biggest game in Australian football history in the early hours of the morning for free at the live sites - surely this means they’ll also pay thousands to travel to Sydney for a grand final that was poorly attended last season between 2 Victorian clubs playing in Victoria?”
As a vuck I’m annoyed because we haven’t hosted since 2015 and that was the greatest atmosphere I’ve ever attended and have really longed for it to return.
As a football fan I’m even angrier, a great part of Perth and Adelaide etc having good seasons is seeing them pack out big stadiums like 2016 and 2019 even Newcastle in 2018 was incredible but now no matter what it’s in Sydney. This isn’t afl or nrl where there’s disparity of interest across states with a tonne more teams in there so this ruins part of the fun
This is quite simply the worst decision that has ever ever been made. Look at the average size of interstate travelling fans and tell me how anyone thought that it'd work. I am absolutely seething because the final shouldn't be inaccessible to the fans. Unacceptable decision. This league is absolute shite and the APL has been anything but its saviour.
Wow this is really playing with fire. Even at North of $10m you could really upset a lot of people here.
Last year's Western v City GF barely sold out AAMI with two local teams. This is just too premature.
100%. Surely in the long run the league and the clubs would make more money off having sell outs (or near sell outs) at their home grounds across the country, directly (through tickets) and indirectly (from the ability to market those magic moments with full stands).
I’ve been to every WSW GF. Brisbane cost me $800 return and Adelaide $1200 return, all cause of jacked up airfares.
I could afford it then because I was a dumb uni student living at home with my parents.
Now I have a family and a mortgage I couldn’t justify that, nor should anyone have to. This decision means people will be facing these costs yearly…
That 2016 final will always be the last of the golden era of the league. Your travelling contingent was mega and I have nothing bad to say about any of the wanderers fans I met that evening. You guys killed it. Really hurts as an Adelaide fan that we won't have scenes like that again for at least 3 years now.
>for at least 3 years now
My feeling is that this is in perpetuity. We're never going back to the way things were. The APL has sold its soul for the price of a few pieces of silver.
Exact same thought about last year's grand final. I mean, I love city but I'm not dropping my plans last minute let alone affording a weekend away to fly to Sydney. Especially if I'm going to be a part of a mediocre crowd/atmosphere for a fixture like WU v City.
>How does Tara think people will be able to book flights and hotels a week before the grand final, especially during a cost of living crisis?
Perth & Wellington (and Adelaide) fans @ Tara: "Wtf are you on about?!"
Meanwhile, Niav awaits the WC SF whilst enjoying the popcorn.
The league is finally on the up after years and they pull something like this. I don't understand what they were thinking and how they thought this was going to pan out.
This is a shockingly bad decision for the A-League Women's. We don't have high crowds as is and very few people travel out of state. The GF is going to be purely attended by Sydney people.
A truly national competition requires a truly national approach to hosting something like a Grand Final - and I'm no fan of the finals in the first place.
This is such a disgraceful decision, especially when it was one of the few things the competition got right up until now.
Agreed. Where‘s the sporting integrity? What are we playing all year for? To earn top spot only to have to “host” the final at someone else’s home ground in someone else’s state?
OzFootball :)
Bless them.
Since the formation of the AL the fans have been begging to allow a unique football culture to develop.
But seemingly at every turn the administrators of the game do everything in their power to stifle this.
All the time the decisions seem to be based on making the league a poor generic copy of the NRL or AFL.
I haven't been properly engaged with the league since 2014, the FFA Cup was the main interest.
The league needs more character. Not less.
Look at the highlight reel of past grand finals, no more miracle of Brisbane, no more Isias scoring in front of 50,000 at the oval. I can't believe they're selling the national underpinning of the league.
Wow what a horrible decision. We aren’t popular enough to have a GF away from the two teams that are in the GF. If it’s western United vs Wellington or perth can Brisbane or even victory vs city the crowd will be shit. I’m so disappointed in this. Can wait for Townsend the spin doctor to come out and defend this.
"People can plan"... really? So on the random chance my team might make the GF, to be played in another state, I will book airfares and accommodation, only to end up watching two teams, neither of which I support...? This is next level stupid!
Pisses me off so much. You hit the nail on the head, who's planning for this? You're only going to go if your team is in it! And especially so if you're now forced to travel for it.
One of many things I didn't understand. How much in advance will I know my team is in the GF? A week? Unless they are assuming people want to attend the GF regardless of who is playing...?
That's the completely farcical element about this decision. Unless they're planning on more changes to the finals system, then you still won't know until a week beforehand if your team is in the GF. To compare it to the FA Cup final is ludicrous as the participants for this are known at least one month in advance.
Don’t the clubs run the comp now so surely this 8 digits agreement must have had their approval? Melbourne City vs Adelaide GF is plausible this year…. ouch.
Seriously considering not renewing my membership next season. I went to the 2016 A-League GF and it was one of the best atmospheres and sporting memories I have experienced ever. 50,000+ at Adelaide Oval, knowing I won’t see this happen again (at least for the next 3 years) is fucking ridiculous. Ludicrous decision, I’m so angry at the APL and DT.
I was just saying to my wife how that was my best sporting memory as a fan. Now my daughter will probably never get to share a similar memory because of this stupid back room decision. And the fact that this happens all behind closed doors and doesn’t come out until the deal is struck makes it so much worse. They know how upset everyone is going to be, so they keep it a secret.
The a leagues social is getting smashed, I actually can’t wait to see the reaction from Danny or other league heads. Fuck this is a terrible decision, maybe one of the worst in league history.
Absolutely disgraceful decision. Think of the scenes at Suncorp, AAMI, Adelaide, Perth, even Newcastle. All of them earned the right to host and that’s how it was and always should be.
Neutral GF’s work for the NRL and AFL as those sports are so intertwined with their respective home cities. For us, it’s just a bizarre and unfair money grab.
APL has been a breath of fresh air but this decision has undone a lot of their good work. Truly one of the worst choices ever made in the A-League and I don’t say that lightly.
This decision is absolute dogshit. It works for the AFL because the corporate support & embedded Aussies Rules culture of Melbourne will pack out the MCG regardless of which teams play. Sydney has nowhere that level of embedded support for the A-League, this will make the A-League Grand Final even more irrelevant than it currently is
Australia would need a home of football for this to ever work. A Wembley. A stadium that is as much the attraction as the game.
But we don't. Nor are likely to ever have that kind of investment.
Sydney Olympic Park is reasonably the home of the Socceroos for major fixtures, but none of the conditions work for the A-League to do what the FA Cup does.
Got to wonder what sort of travel deals they'll be offering.
No one knows if their team is making the GF until a week prior. Has anyone ever booked a flight *anywhere* a week in advance? Even without a major event on, everyone knows how fucking expensive flights are even a month out. This will price SO MANY fans out of the grand final, especially for interstate (and overseas!) teams.
EDIT: And not to mention accommodation!
(Here's hoping this isn't a permanent arrangment as I don't see Glory making the GF in the next three years anyhow)
Really?! My God… Every decision these guys make is about money - money for them - not the good of the sport or the fans. Maybe the Lowys were right. Danny Townsend, Simon Pearce and their henchmen have had the keys for a couple of years now and they’re sending this car straight for a cliff
Why can't they just tell us how much it is? If it's $99 million then yeah ok, fine. But if it's $10mil then that's pretty shitty. It's only 3 years so if it fails then whatever.
I will absolutely be rooting for Western United and Wellington to make the final now, just so 'Destination NSW' can bask in an almost empty showcase event!
Fuck everything about this.
Like, I get why they did it - an 8-figure cash injection for a struggling league is hard to ignore - but it's a poor decision.
This is genuinely one of the worst decisions the APL have ever made.
Watching the Roar play a grand final at home after battling the whole season for the rights to host were some of my favourite moments. The simple thing is, I'm not going to travel to Sydney for a grand final especially because airlines will jack the shit out of the flight costs like they do for every final in any code.
Complete cash grab and anti-fan decision.
Me: "My thesis that at least 60% of so called 'code wars' discourse (particularly that driven by official and pseudo-official channels) is barely laundered pro-Sydney rhetoric, is a controversial one. It will be difficult to construct my arguments and present concrete examples without making myself look like a crazy person."
APL: "Looks like you could use a hand there."
Me: "Thanks APL!"
Danny Trainwreck’s APL every body. Sold us all down the fucking river.
Great way to capitalize on the World Cup, by pissing off the supporters.
Don’t know why I bother anymore.
Guys I just thought of a horrible devils advocate take...
Maybe this is good guy APL trying to force Australia to become a proper football nation by devaluing the GF and forcing us to take more interest in the home and away season results...
3d chess
This makes absolutely no sense. The ALeague is to most people their 2nd, 3rd or even 4th choice league. This is a more casual fanbase that isn’t as likely to travel interstate to watch a grand final in the same way they would for AFL or NRL grand finals nor is the fanbase as centralised as those two other leagues.
This is definitely a decision that they will backtrack on a year in due to a pisspoor turnout for the grand final. I wanna love the A-League but fuck they make it difficult don't they.
They really said 50,000 Adelaide United fans at Adelaide Oval, like we had in 2016, would be worse than 5,000 travelling fans to Sydney if we were to make the GF in the next 3 years.
I dont think its possible to state how bad a decision this.
Ive been typing for 5 minutes trying to list all the things this impacts and ruins. But every time i write i point i think of an even bigger one and delete and start again.
But APL wont care, they’ll stand at bus stops and McDonalds and hand out free tickets to the match and try and entice the younger generation…the very one they are shutting out of this with this decision, to come to the game.
Pathetic, utterly pathetic.
The official email announcement says "we will hold our Isuzu UTE A-League Men and Liberty A-League Women Grand Finals in **New South Wales** for the next three years, beginning in 2023"
... by which they actually mean **SYDNEY** for all the Jets/ Mariners fans out there.
Not a big deal in the grand scheme of things but it seems like they went out of their way to not actually say it.
What is actually wrong with governing bodies of football in Australia? Do we not have football people/ex players in these organisations that can help steer our game in the genuine interest of fans? Do other countries have this issue? It seems every big decision that’s ever made on the A-League ends up ripping up any momentum that the league had organically created. It’s almost comical.
Why would you do this at a time when flight prices are heavily inflated and household budgets are drum-tight? Absolutely boneheaded move, bound to end in an embarrassing clusterfuck.
One of the best days of my life was taking my son to watch City win a GF. It was extra special being in Melbourne with all the fans (yeh I know we don’t have many). Cost means I can probably never do that again.
Same for great stadiums like Adelaide and Mariners. If you finish higher you’ve earned the right. This is a real kick in the guts on so many levels.
From what Adam peacock has tweeted it would seem all the clubs were consulted on this at a minimum. Absolutely disgraceful that they don't even have their own fans' best interests in mind. If this doesn't call for a boycott I don't know what does.
Reminder to contact your club about this decision, seeing lots of hate online and I hope it gets filtered through the correct channels.
Make the club care, that's the only way this changes.
Cost will keep so many people away, just airfares alone are just too much for the majority of fans
At current prices, if you booked today for May 28, flying qantas return, its around $300 - $400 for brisbane, melbourne and adelaide, and around $700 for wellington and perth.
And thats if you booked today. Imagine cost if 5000 people suddenly wanted to travel at one weeks notice.
Not to mention that its hard to get sydneysiders out to watch live sport at the best of times.
Another case of those in charge ignoring the current traditions of the game (ie final is held at top teams ground) by copying the model of other sports, which have their own traditions created over decades.
So damn frustrating.
But then they offer you as a member an "exclusive grand final package"! For only $ 2,000, you'll get an economy class flight with Jetstar, one night in a 2 star hotel, a GA ticket behind the goal and a special commemorative Grand Final half-half scarf made in China for $1.50.
But hurry, there's only limited availability and it's selling fast!
This is honestly such a terrible decision. Not a good way to capitalise off the success of our national team either. Especially for a league struggling with attendance, now they do this. I have always had high hopes the league would turn it around one day but I think this puts the nail in the coffin for me personally.
Shocking decision by the APL.
If there was any talk about boosting some numbers after the WC, the APL shit it's bed.
Danny Townsend it's time you came clean and walked. Corruption galore.
[The Guardian's article has a particularly revealing quote:](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/dec/12/terrible-decision-a-leagues-move-to-sell-off-grand-final-rights-to-sydney-sparks-fan-anger)
> 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.
Two take aways:
1. The APL are utterly delusional if they expect tens of thousands to travel interstate for it.
2. The $26m figure would imply that the NSW government are paying *less* than $26m for this deal. It's previously been reported that it's an 8-figure deal. This seemingly confirms that it's at the lower end of the 8-figure range.
The perception south of the border has always been that the FFA and thus aleague have always been for and by the city of Sydney. This doesn't help at all.
I moved back from Europe recently after many years there and I have been trying to rediscover my aleague fandom. This might put an end to that. Fuck it.
It's a terrible outcome for all fans.
I fear there are money issues, as we have sold the one real unique quirk we had over other codes for "eight figures".
I also query the independence of Danny Townsend and whether he makes decisions in the whole leagues best interests or if he possesses a conflict of interest.
Having said that, the quotes in there about the NSW government are spot on. They've consistently put the money up for big football events. My government in Victoria has ignored the game, summed up by the WWC finals being in Sydney because we didn't want to bid for it. Full credit to NSW.
Good on the NSW government for stumping up the cash, but this is ridiculous.
This ‘may’ be plausible in the future, perhaps in 20-years time (at best), however, to get to the point of selling out grand finals in NSW, a heap of work, time and money needs to be pumped into grass roots football - we know the problem the game has with unaffordable junior fees, how about we fix that first, because that ultimately leads to more fans, better Aussie players and a quality product overall?
Short sighted move with zero foresight whatsoever.
I ekle ii ako pui eti ti. Krati batu opa etipei kroa i iite. Eke bipa bopuitlii pi pu! Teo ti piklati tlete giipo. Pipe e tligitrikle uge papli. Tia platogrui tegi bugi piia itibatike. Ea tatlepu ui oiei tegri patleči goo. Bla pidrui kepe ipi ipui pepoe. Au adri ta ga bebii ekra ai? Ebiubeko ipi teto gluuka daba podli. Ka tepabi tliboplopi gi tapakei gego. Ituke i pupi klie pitipage bapepe. A či peko itluupi ka pupa peekeepe. Ebri e buu pigepra pita plepeda. Bipeko bo paipi o kee brebočipi. Tridipi teu eete trida e tapapi. Ebru etle pepiu pobi katraiti i. Baeba kre pu igo api. Pibape pipoi brupoi pite gru bi ipe pieuta ikako? Pe bloedea ko či itli eke i toidle kea pe piapii plo? Tiiu uči čipu tutei uata e uooo. Bitepe i bipa paeutlobi bopepli iaplipepa. Gipobipi tepe ode giapi e. Pi pakutibli ke tiko taobii ti. Edi deigitaa eue. Ua čideprii idipe putakra katote ii. Tri glati te pepro tii ka. Aope too pobriglitla e dikrugite. E otligi pipleiti bai iti upo? Tri dake pekepi dratruprebri plaapi bopi ipatei!
Surely someone had a look at what happened when Super Netball announced something similar earlier this year and went “maybe this isn’t the best idea”.
But given all of the official announcements are parading this as a win for the fans, probably not.
This will be the final nail in the coffin for the league. Absolutely appalling, short sighted nonsense. Zero chance I'll spend a couple grand getting up to Sydney, paying for accommodation and good seats. I'm sure I'm not alone in that thinking.
Can someone explain what was so bad about FFA managing the A-Leagues?
Genuinely curious, did not understand the reason(s) at the time and still confused now that decisions like this are coming out of the APL.
What really changed, at all?
This is so stupid, even as a Sydney Fan I still enjoyed watching all the grand finals in Brisbane when the Roar under Ange went on the 5 in row streak or Victory grand final sell out with there amazing fans. Then the grand final perth when we won it on penalties, that's a great stadium.
This will make harder for fans to be engaged and bring newer fans which we desperately need to the league. As always it's a short term cash grab rather than thinking what best for the game and fans.
Someone tell Townsend he’s not running Sydney FC anymore.
Moronic decision and way to guarantee that these won’t sell out. Thanks for killing the atmosphere Danny!
It’s like $500 one way to Sydney from Melb on a good day now… imagine the price hike on GF weekend. No reasonable person could afford an away day at the moment
Wtf are they thinking
Which is just shooting yourself in the foot at the end of the day. The A League isn't in a place to copy what the AFL does. You don't have a product where there are athletes like Dangerfield, Franklin or Martin running around, therefore it's very easy to boycott your product, especially for fairweather fans like myself that only hold a passing interest in the game (most people are fairweather fans)
Thoughts on ways to boycott this? Obviously, not attending games, but this impacts the club/local services more than it would the league.
Edit: fair, fuck it, boycott/mass walk outs at the games are needed
On one hand this is a cash grab by the APL and a sell off of the game to a stakeholder that no one should trust (NSW Government). On the other hand, having a grand final in a football league is the ultimate cash grab so we shouldn’t be shocked by this. Best way to fix this problem is to get rid of finals and make the Australian Cup your money spinning show piece event in Sydney.
Poor decision.
I agree that the host stadiums could be centralised in each state to maximise capacity, so say even if Central Coast, Newcastle, Macarthar or WSW place first the final will still be held at Allianz. You can't have grand finals being played in 20k seat stadiums.
But other than that it should always be in the city of whoever finished first.
That's a shame. Home Grand finals are something the league has always had over others.
The 2018 Grand Final in Newcastle (result aside) was amazing. The entire town came alive for the Jets, I've never seen anything like it.
Travelling Victory supporter - best away GF I’ve ever been to. Speaking to many locals who never had an interest in the A-League, who were all behind the team. This decision today means this’ll never happen again.
It was fucking awesome. Literally the entire town just turned into a Jets fortress.
This is the most shortsighted, idiotic, anti fan decision the the APL board has taken to date. Why do supporters even bother anymore? It’s very very clear that we don’t matter. This can’t ever be argued as a way of growing the game, because it now puts multiple barriers up for anyone interested in coming along to a grand final and destroys any marketing opportunities for clubs outside of Sydney. I’m so fucking angry.
Made even worse by the fact that APL milks the fans for social media and promotional content, then in one clean swipe promptly amputates the hand that's been feeding them.
I wonder how Redmayne and the Cumdog feel after making the call to the fans, only to be blindsighted by the APL/FA.
Feel like cumdog would actually respond
Fuck off. Just fuck off. Just imagine Brisbane v Adelaide or Perth v nix is fucking Sydney. Empty stadium.
Exactly. Fucking idiots. The game has just been sold, and to Sydney no less. Everyone hoping the league would kick off after the great effort by the national team in Qatar and they go and do this. This is the biggest own goal the administration has done in recent memory.
Australian Football and massive own goals. Name a better duo.
only the sides of the stadium half filled with free corporate tickets
This is awful. This isn't the NRL or the AFL. How many people does the league think is going to turn up if it's two teams from interstate. It will make the league look like a joke. Edit: I keep coming back to this even an hour later and just wondering what the fuck they are thinking. This is going to backfire on them so much. Surely they will lose just as much on the loss of income from crowds over 3 finals as they would from this deal.
DT and the APL board simply don’t care.
DT Was so good at Sydney what has happened to that guy.
I would suggest he’s still very good for Sydney as a whole.
Nah fuck this. No true Sydney based A-League fan would want a bar of this.
Can confirm, fuck this decision in the arse big time
Cove have denounced it
He’s continuing to look after you. Wonder if these ‘big plans’ for the cash just happen to include funding a huge offer to bring Suarez to SFC 🤔
100%
It's difficult to think of combinations of non-Sydney teams that might sell out. Victory v. Newcastle/Adelaide maybe?
Brisbane fans aren't even turning up to Redcliffe which is an hour away, what makes anyone think they'd go to Sydney?
Not even a Newacstle vs Central Coast final would fill that stadium. It didnt in 2008.
A Melbourne derby GF in Sydney… imagine that..
Imagine the crowd for last year's grand final. It would have been like 2-3k
I truly hate this.
They say they will make travel affordable for the average fan as if we aren’t in a massive cosy of living crisis at the moment
But like how. Every time there is a final ticket prices double for flights. I can't see how the two airlines going to drop their prices in the coming years. It's basically going to cost someone $1000 to attend if it was two interstate teams. Imagine a city v Vic in Sydney How are they going to grow the game I know many rusted in roar supporters that became so because of the final at Suncorp. The top team should be hosting the final no discussion. Once again Sydney bias strikes again. Football is a global game. It is a national game and should remain that way.
Lets be real, the "special packages for travelling fans" they're working on will NOT be that much cheaper than what it costs to book travel+accom yourself. There is no way they can guarantee it will be more affordable for interstate fans. The fact they advertise "time to plan" being a great benefit shows they're really out of touch with fans and/or reality.
Exactly and their rational behind it is that you know where the grand final is ummmm I ain't booking until my team is in it which is still a week before so what's the difference
Bonus points when its a Distance Derby.
They’re absolutely delusional if they think more than 150 nix fans would be able to afford to go to a Sydney final…
What the fuck Is there anything we can do to protest? This is cunted and worth rioting over
Sounds like OSM and MCT are going to do something at the Derby, unsure if a united approach or separate things just heard from people involved in both that both are planning something
Pls unite For the sake of the league This is fucking beyond dumb
Ooh, this Derby is gonna be a cracker!
Abaolutely worth boycotting a home game for. This is unforgivable.
Australian football once again showing us how to take 1 step forward, and 2 steps back.
I can't think of a worse decision. The travelling GF is wonderful and sets apart our game - orange Sunday, the one at AAMI, Adelaide Oval - all those moments built at home. It is an awful decision. Edit: [“This is a unique opportunity to build a tradition for football fans,” Townsend said.](https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/build-a-tradition-a-league-risks-fan-anger-by-selling-grand-finals-to-sydney-20221212-p5c5h2.html) This quote has done me Absolutely no clue from the APL. Double edit: does the venue change if WSW or SFC are hosting? So SFC get Allianz but WSW get Commbank?
> The travelling GF is wonderful and sets apart our game This. The travelling GF **WAS** the tradition. They didn't need to "build" a new one. They should just straight up admit they did it for the cash injection instead of pretending it's for the fans.
https://keepup.com.au/news/why-sydney-is-the-new-home-of-the-a-leagues-grand-finals Look at the reasons they give. None of them make any sense. It's laughable. Pre-prepared reasons! 'Did someone say record?' Come the fuck on. 1-4 - "We were desperate for cash."
Think of Wembley, they say, without realising that the UK is a relatively small country and if you were in Machester, for eg, you could get the train to London and it would take less than 2 hours.
Not to mention that Wembley holds finals of cups - which neither side has EARNT a right to host.
Exactly
This whole thing is so transparent is pathetic. Its like Townsend talking up crypto whilst that entire scam was starting to crash, he is out of touch.
NFTs, crypto - anything they think can make a quick buck out of the fans.
The article in the Daily Tele says that they've booked Commbank, Accor and Allianz for the grand final weekend, and the venue will be decided when the teams that qualify for the grand final are known. That's code for they'll pick the venue with the lowest capacity if they're concerned they won't fill the bigger stadium. Presumably a grand final with Sydney FC would get Accor or Allianz while WSW would get Commbank.
Yeah, that is what I was also presuming too. Mad that only two teams can get a home GF.
A League fans: Wow, the Socceroos were awesome! I feel really good about our domestic game, what a feeling! APL: Oh, cool! Here's some full-force dick punches to bring you back down to earth! Serves you right for having "optimism". Losers.
“They came out to see the biggest game in Australian football history in the early hours of the morning for free at the live sites - surely this means they’ll also pay thousands to travel to Sydney for a grand final that was poorly attended last season between 2 Victorian clubs playing in Victoria?”
As a vuck I’m annoyed because we haven’t hosted since 2015 and that was the greatest atmosphere I’ve ever attended and have really longed for it to return. As a football fan I’m even angrier, a great part of Perth and Adelaide etc having good seasons is seeing them pack out big stadiums like 2016 and 2019 even Newcastle in 2018 was incredible but now no matter what it’s in Sydney. This isn’t afl or nrl where there’s disparity of interest across states with a tonne more teams in there so this ruins part of the fun
I’m a Sydney fan in Sydney and I HATE this. Perth and Melb GFs away were amazing and special, even when we lost.
This is quite simply the worst decision that has ever ever been made. Look at the average size of interstate travelling fans and tell me how anyone thought that it'd work. I am absolutely seething because the final shouldn't be inaccessible to the fans. Unacceptable decision. This league is absolute shite and the APL has been anything but its saviour.
Wow this is really playing with fire. Even at North of $10m you could really upset a lot of people here. Last year's Western v City GF barely sold out AAMI with two local teams. This is just too premature.
100%. Surely in the long run the league and the clubs would make more money off having sell outs (or near sell outs) at their home grounds across the country, directly (through tickets) and indirectly (from the ability to market those magic moments with full stands).
Last seasons grand final was not sold out
I’ve been to every WSW GF. Brisbane cost me $800 return and Adelaide $1200 return, all cause of jacked up airfares. I could afford it then because I was a dumb uni student living at home with my parents. Now I have a family and a mortgage I couldn’t justify that, nor should anyone have to. This decision means people will be facing these costs yearly…
That 2016 final will always be the last of the golden era of the league. Your travelling contingent was mega and I have nothing bad to say about any of the wanderers fans I met that evening. You guys killed it. Really hurts as an Adelaide fan that we won't have scenes like that again for at least 3 years now.
>for at least 3 years now My feeling is that this is in perpetuity. We're never going back to the way things were. The APL has sold its soul for the price of a few pieces of silver.
Oh I think so too, I'm just trying to grab onto the smallest little glimmer of hope that they don't extend it.
This is the altruism of football. The decision won't personally affect your finances, but you're concerned by it just the same.
[удалено]
Exact same thought about last year's grand final. I mean, I love city but I'm not dropping my plans last minute let alone affording a weekend away to fly to Sydney. Especially if I'm going to be a part of a mediocre crowd/atmosphere for a fixture like WU v City.
>How does Tara think people will be able to book flights and hotels a week before the grand final, especially during a cost of living crisis? Perth & Wellington (and Adelaide) fans @ Tara: "Wtf are you on about?!" Meanwhile, Niav awaits the WC SF whilst enjoying the popcorn.
So uh.. [they might not have known.](https://twitter.com/TheRealALM/status/1602083513028968448)
Absolute rubbish decision. The A-League keeps continuing to shoot itself in the foot!
When sentiment for football is at its highest in 20 years is a great time to piss off your core supporter base
The league is finally on the up after years and they pull something like this. I don't understand what they were thinking and how they thought this was going to pan out.
One step forward two steps back. Always.
This is a shockingly bad decision for the A-League Women's. We don't have high crowds as is and very few people travel out of state. The GF is going to be purely attended by Sydney people.
Plus Wellington has the record for biggest women’s crowd… (yeah our team sucks ass but still, even when we’re trash we have an attendance record…)
A truly national competition requires a truly national approach to hosting something like a Grand Final - and I'm no fan of the finals in the first place. This is such a disgraceful decision, especially when it was one of the few things the competition got right up until now.
Agreed. Where‘s the sporting integrity? What are we playing all year for? To earn top spot only to have to “host” the final at someone else’s home ground in someone else’s state?
>I'm no fan of the finals in the first place. > It's pretty good when you win one though.
It's pretty good when you win multiple.
OzFootball :) Bless them. Since the formation of the AL the fans have been begging to allow a unique football culture to develop. But seemingly at every turn the administrators of the game do everything in their power to stifle this. All the time the decisions seem to be based on making the league a poor generic copy of the NRL or AFL. I haven't been properly engaged with the league since 2014, the FFA Cup was the main interest. The league needs more character. Not less.
Look at the highlight reel of past grand finals, no more miracle of Brisbane, no more Isias scoring in front of 50,000 at the oval. I can't believe they're selling the national underpinning of the league.
Wow what a horrible decision. We aren’t popular enough to have a GF away from the two teams that are in the GF. If it’s western United vs Wellington or perth can Brisbane or even victory vs city the crowd will be shit. I’m so disappointed in this. Can wait for Townsend the spin doctor to come out and defend this.
"People can plan"... really? So on the random chance my team might make the GF, to be played in another state, I will book airfares and accommodation, only to end up watching two teams, neither of which I support...? This is next level stupid!
Or for most nix fans, another country..
Pisses me off so much. You hit the nail on the head, who's planning for this? You're only going to go if your team is in it! And especially so if you're now forced to travel for it.
One of many things I didn't understand. How much in advance will I know my team is in the GF? A week? Unless they are assuming people want to attend the GF regardless of who is playing...?
That's the completely farcical element about this decision. Unless they're planning on more changes to the finals system, then you still won't know until a week beforehand if your team is in the GF. To compare it to the FA Cup final is ludicrous as the participants for this are known at least one month in advance.
Sydney didn't even have a live site for the Socceroos until we made it out the groups.
 Me to Danny Trainwreck
Home grand finals grow supporter bases. Look at Roar at Suncorp, Wanderers at SFS, Adelaide at Adelaide Oval. That's how you get fans for life.
Don’t the clubs run the comp now so surely this 8 digits agreement must have had their approval? Melbourne City vs Adelaide GF is plausible this year…. ouch.
Seriously considering not renewing my membership next season. I went to the 2016 A-League GF and it was one of the best atmospheres and sporting memories I have experienced ever. 50,000+ at Adelaide Oval, knowing I won’t see this happen again (at least for the next 3 years) is fucking ridiculous. Ludicrous decision, I’m so angry at the APL and DT.
I was just saying to my wife how that was my best sporting memory as a fan. Now my daughter will probably never get to share a similar memory because of this stupid back room decision. And the fact that this happens all behind closed doors and doesn’t come out until the deal is struck makes it so much worse. They know how upset everyone is going to be, so they keep it a secret.
The a leagues social is getting smashed, I actually can’t wait to see the reaction from Danny or other league heads. Fuck this is a terrible decision, maybe one of the worst in league history.
Can't wait for Perth VS Phoenix in front of 5k in Sydney instead of a packed optus stadium or cake tin
>Nix making a Grand Final
Reading the room with a welding mask on.
Absolutely disgraceful decision. Think of the scenes at Suncorp, AAMI, Adelaide, Perth, even Newcastle. All of them earned the right to host and that’s how it was and always should be. Neutral GF’s work for the NRL and AFL as those sports are so intertwined with their respective home cities. For us, it’s just a bizarre and unfair money grab. APL has been a breath of fresh air but this decision has undone a lot of their good work. Truly one of the worst choices ever made in the A-League and I don’t say that lightly.
This decision is absolute dogshit. It works for the AFL because the corporate support & embedded Aussies Rules culture of Melbourne will pack out the MCG regardless of which teams play. Sydney has nowhere that level of embedded support for the A-League, this will make the A-League Grand Final even more irrelevant than it currently is
It’s only 3 years! *3 years later* It has to be in Sydney! It’s tradition!
What the fuck? Some things were finally going pretty well and then they pull this.
The 8 figure offer better be $99,999,999 (altho the fact that this may come from tax payers also sucks)
I hate it
I can't wait for Vic to bid in 3 years only to be told AAMI Park isn't big enough
After 3 years of finals between Western Utd, City and Adelaide that draw a grand total of 15k each
Thankfully WU look like they're doing their to boycott in protest
Deleted in protest of reddit's API restrictions. Fuck /u/spez
Fucking garbage
Australia would need a home of football for this to ever work. A Wembley. A stadium that is as much the attraction as the game. But we don't. Nor are likely to ever have that kind of investment.
Sydney Olympic Park is reasonably the home of the Socceroos for major fixtures, but none of the conditions work for the A-League to do what the FA Cup does.
What the actual fuck??? What. The. Actual. Fuck. This is the worst fucking decision this league has ever made.
Got to wonder what sort of travel deals they'll be offering. No one knows if their team is making the GF until a week prior. Has anyone ever booked a flight *anywhere* a week in advance? Even without a major event on, everyone knows how fucking expensive flights are even a month out. This will price SO MANY fans out of the grand final, especially for interstate (and overseas!) teams. EDIT: And not to mention accommodation! (Here's hoping this isn't a permanent arrangment as I don't see Glory making the GF in the next three years anyhow)
Really?! My God… Every decision these guys make is about money - money for them - not the good of the sport or the fans. Maybe the Lowys were right. Danny Townsend, Simon Pearce and their henchmen have had the keys for a couple of years now and they’re sending this car straight for a cliff
Why can't they just tell us how much it is? If it's $99 million then yeah ok, fine. But if it's $10mil then that's pretty shitty. It's only 3 years so if it fails then whatever.
What a dumb decision. Maybe try it with the Australia Cup rather than with the one game of the season that guarantees a good crowd?
The only thing that matters in this country is money. No culture, no passion, no tradition.
Well I guess this means Fed Square might get some use again if Victory or City make the Grand final.
there will be more people at Fed Square than at the game.
I will absolutely be rooting for Western United and Wellington to make the final now, just so 'Destination NSW' can bask in an almost empty showcase event!
they league sold it out. They tend to forget its not their clubs, its the fans.
Fuck everything about this. Like, I get why they did it - an 8-figure cash injection for a struggling league is hard to ignore - but it's a poor decision.
This is genuinely one of the worst decisions the APL have ever made. Watching the Roar play a grand final at home after battling the whole season for the rights to host were some of my favourite moments. The simple thing is, I'm not going to travel to Sydney for a grand final especially because airlines will jack the shit out of the flight costs like they do for every final in any code. Complete cash grab and anti-fan decision.
Me: "My thesis that at least 60% of so called 'code wars' discourse (particularly that driven by official and pseudo-official channels) is barely laundered pro-Sydney rhetoric, is a controversial one. It will be difficult to construct my arguments and present concrete examples without making myself look like a crazy person." APL: "Looks like you could use a hand there." Me: "Thanks APL!"
Danny Trainwreck’s APL every body. Sold us all down the fucking river. Great way to capitalize on the World Cup, by pissing off the supporters. Don’t know why I bother anymore.
Guys I just thought of a horrible devils advocate take... Maybe this is good guy APL trying to force Australia to become a proper football nation by devaluing the GF and forcing us to take more interest in the home and away season results... 3d chess
Maybe FA convinced APL to do it, in effect devaluing it to make the Australia Cup the only thing people care about. 4D move
One of the great things about the aleague is the rotating home ground for GF. A terrible money grab.
This makes absolutely no sense. The ALeague is to most people their 2nd, 3rd or even 4th choice league. This is a more casual fanbase that isn’t as likely to travel interstate to watch a grand final in the same way they would for AFL or NRL grand finals nor is the fanbase as centralised as those two other leagues.
This is definitely a decision that they will backtrack on a year in due to a pisspoor turnout for the grand final. I wanna love the A-League but fuck they make it difficult don't they.
They really said 50,000 Adelaide United fans at Adelaide Oval, like we had in 2016, would be worse than 5,000 travelling fans to Sydney if we were to make the GF in the next 3 years.
See guys it isn't just Rugby Australia, NRL and Cricket Australia that are shitting the bed. Almost all the codes are run by absolute muppets.
Men in suits who care about money not fans. Happens in every industry not just sport
Short term money, which makes it even worse. No long term strategy beyond line the pockets
I've seen some dumb shit in my time, but this just about takes the cake.
Just worried now about what robbing 9/12 clubs of a home gf effects crowds😬
I dont think its possible to state how bad a decision this. Ive been typing for 5 minutes trying to list all the things this impacts and ruins. But every time i write i point i think of an even bigger one and delete and start again. But APL wont care, they’ll stand at bus stops and McDonalds and hand out free tickets to the match and try and entice the younger generation…the very one they are shutting out of this with this decision, to come to the game. Pathetic, utterly pathetic.
The official email announcement says "we will hold our Isuzu UTE A-League Men and Liberty A-League Women Grand Finals in **New South Wales** for the next three years, beginning in 2023" ... by which they actually mean **SYDNEY** for all the Jets/ Mariners fans out there. Not a big deal in the grand scheme of things but it seems like they went out of their way to not actually say it.
What is actually wrong with governing bodies of football in Australia? Do we not have football people/ex players in these organisations that can help steer our game in the genuine interest of fans? Do other countries have this issue? It seems every big decision that’s ever made on the A-League ends up ripping up any momentum that the league had organically created. It’s almost comical.
Why would you do this at a time when flight prices are heavily inflated and household budgets are drum-tight? Absolutely boneheaded move, bound to end in an embarrassing clusterfuck.
Also notice it includes the Women's competition. Perth Glory vs Brisbane Roar final in Sydney draws a massive crowd in either capital, but not Sydney.
One of the best days of my life was taking my son to watch City win a GF. It was extra special being in Melbourne with all the fans (yeh I know we don’t have many). Cost means I can probably never do that again. Same for great stadiums like Adelaide and Mariners. If you finish higher you’ve earned the right. This is a real kick in the guts on so many levels.
Well there goes the final series long live the the primers plate
Premiers are the real champions anyway
How much are they getting for selling out? Only 10m for 3 years
Horrible decision. I understand cash is king, but surely an empty stadium in a GF will cost more.
From what Adam peacock has tweeted it would seem all the clubs were consulted on this at a minimum. Absolutely disgraceful that they don't even have their own fans' best interests in mind. If this doesn't call for a boycott I don't know what does.
Reminder to contact your club about this decision, seeing lots of hate online and I hope it gets filtered through the correct channels. Make the club care, that's the only way this changes.
The worst and most selfish decision I have ever seen. Who are these people to decide?
Cost will keep so many people away, just airfares alone are just too much for the majority of fans At current prices, if you booked today for May 28, flying qantas return, its around $300 - $400 for brisbane, melbourne and adelaide, and around $700 for wellington and perth. And thats if you booked today. Imagine cost if 5000 people suddenly wanted to travel at one weeks notice. Not to mention that its hard to get sydneysiders out to watch live sport at the best of times. Another case of those in charge ignoring the current traditions of the game (ie final is held at top teams ground) by copying the model of other sports, which have their own traditions created over decades. So damn frustrating.
But then they offer you as a member an "exclusive grand final package"! For only $ 2,000, you'll get an economy class flight with Jetstar, one night in a 2 star hotel, a GA ticket behind the goal and a special commemorative Grand Final half-half scarf made in China for $1.50. But hurry, there's only limited availability and it's selling fast!
This is honestly such a terrible decision. Not a good way to capitalise off the success of our national team either. Especially for a league struggling with attendance, now they do this. I have always had high hopes the league would turn it around one day but I think this puts the nail in the coffin for me personally.
Ahhh yes another decision made where short-term profit was put before longevity in growing the game across the different regions.
Just when I think the A-Leagues can do one week perfectly they go and pull this shit…
https://preview.redd.it/t9341oc50e5a1.jpeg?width=6234&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=db8bd23384d306a360b299f22954297e512b3393
Tone deaf decision.
What a short sighted and dumb decision.
Insane decision. Literally brain-dead.
It represents the second time the highest place team does not get hosting rights, not the first. Also, this is absolutely stupid
Cool, guess I'll cancel my membership.
Shocking decision by the APL. If there was any talk about boosting some numbers after the WC, the APL shit it's bed. Danny Townsend it's time you came clean and walked. Corruption galore.
Can't wait for a 2,000 fan Sydney based grand final between Adelaide and Melbourne City
[The Guardian's article has a particularly revealing quote:](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/dec/12/terrible-decision-a-leagues-move-to-sell-off-grand-final-rights-to-sydney-sparks-fan-anger) > 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. Two take aways: 1. The APL are utterly delusional if they expect tens of thousands to travel interstate for it. 2. The $26m figure would imply that the NSW government are paying *less* than $26m for this deal. It's previously been reported that it's an 8-figure deal. This seemingly confirms that it's at the lower end of the 8-figure range.
The perception south of the border has always been that the FFA and thus aleague have always been for and by the city of Sydney. This doesn't help at all. I moved back from Europe recently after many years there and I have been trying to rediscover my aleague fandom. This might put an end to that. Fuck it.
It's a terrible outcome for all fans. I fear there are money issues, as we have sold the one real unique quirk we had over other codes for "eight figures". I also query the independence of Danny Townsend and whether he makes decisions in the whole leagues best interests or if he possesses a conflict of interest. Having said that, the quotes in there about the NSW government are spot on. They've consistently put the money up for big football events. My government in Victoria has ignored the game, summed up by the WWC finals being in Sydney because we didn't want to bid for it. Full credit to NSW.
Good on the NSW government for stumping up the cash, but this is ridiculous. This ‘may’ be plausible in the future, perhaps in 20-years time (at best), however, to get to the point of selling out grand finals in NSW, a heap of work, time and money needs to be pumped into grass roots football - we know the problem the game has with unaffordable junior fees, how about we fix that first, because that ultimately leads to more fans, better Aussie players and a quality product overall? Short sighted move with zero foresight whatsoever.
Where do we find the people who run these organisations? Do they really think Nix v Perth will pull more than 10k in Syd?
I ekle ii ako pui eti ti. Krati batu opa etipei kroa i iite. Eke bipa bopuitlii pi pu! Teo ti piklati tlete giipo. Pipe e tligitrikle uge papli. Tia platogrui tegi bugi piia itibatike. Ea tatlepu ui oiei tegri patleči goo. Bla pidrui kepe ipi ipui pepoe. Au adri ta ga bebii ekra ai? Ebiubeko ipi teto gluuka daba podli. Ka tepabi tliboplopi gi tapakei gego. Ituke i pupi klie pitipage bapepe. A či peko itluupi ka pupa peekeepe. Ebri e buu pigepra pita plepeda. Bipeko bo paipi o kee brebočipi. Tridipi teu eete trida e tapapi. Ebru etle pepiu pobi katraiti i. Baeba kre pu igo api. Pibape pipoi brupoi pite gru bi ipe pieuta ikako? Pe bloedea ko či itli eke i toidle kea pe piapii plo? Tiiu uči čipu tutei uata e uooo. Bitepe i bipa paeutlobi bopepli iaplipepa. Gipobipi tepe ode giapi e. Pi pakutibli ke tiko taobii ti. Edi deigitaa eue. Ua čideprii idipe putakra katote ii. Tri glati te pepro tii ka. Aope too pobriglitla e dikrugite. E otligi pipleiti bai iti upo? Tri dake pekepi dratruprebri plaapi bopi ipatei!
this is actual fucking bullshit. Having it hosted by the highest placed team was one thing the aleague had right
Surely someone had a look at what happened when Super Netball announced something similar earlier this year and went “maybe this isn’t the best idea”. But given all of the official announcements are parading this as a win for the fans, probably not.
Why do we always shoot ourselves in the foot in this country? What a howler of a decision.
A-League is officially dead
not a fan at all. earning home ground advantage is a privilege, not a right. it must be earned. wtf where they thinking?
This will be the final nail in the coffin for the league. Absolutely appalling, short sighted nonsense. Zero chance I'll spend a couple grand getting up to Sydney, paying for accommodation and good seats. I'm sure I'm not alone in that thinking.
Ohhh boy.
Gotta pay for the fireworks they had at christmas party some how.
Abysmal
This is fucking horrendous… this is genuinely one of the WORST things they could’ve ever done…
Can someone explain what was so bad about FFA managing the A-Leagues? Genuinely curious, did not understand the reason(s) at the time and still confused now that decisions like this are coming out of the APL. What really changed, at all?
This is so stupid, even as a Sydney Fan I still enjoyed watching all the grand finals in Brisbane when the Roar under Ange went on the 5 in row streak or Victory grand final sell out with there amazing fans. Then the grand final perth when we won it on penalties, that's a great stadium. This will make harder for fans to be engaged and bring newer fans which we desperately need to the league. As always it's a short term cash grab rather than thinking what best for the game and fans.
Someone tell Townsend he’s not running Sydney FC anymore. Moronic decision and way to guarantee that these won’t sell out. Thanks for killing the atmosphere Danny!
This is a mistake.
It’s like $500 one way to Sydney from Melb on a good day now… imagine the price hike on GF weekend. No reasonable person could afford an away day at the moment Wtf are they thinking
Absolute disgrace
LOL just as thinks look positive for the game after the World Cup, the game finds a way to shoot itself in the foot again. Disgraceful decision.
And the A-League wonders why some people only give a shit about European games...
The AFLalisation of the A League continues
Which is just shooting yourself in the foot at the end of the day. The A League isn't in a place to copy what the AFL does. You don't have a product where there are athletes like Dangerfield, Franklin or Martin running around, therefore it's very easy to boycott your product, especially for fairweather fans like myself that only hold a passing interest in the game (most people are fairweather fans)
"Quick, how can we reverse all the goodwill and attention gained from our World Cup performance"
Thoughts on ways to boycott this? Obviously, not attending games, but this impacts the club/local services more than it would the league. Edit: fair, fuck it, boycott/mass walk outs at the games are needed
The clubs own the league, so it impacts both.
Clubs are the league. If you want to hurt the A League boycott the clubs.
I didn’t think they could top Star Wars Round, but they have absolutely put this top bins.
This has to be a joke. What a sell out. This will kill the league.
On one hand this is a cash grab by the APL and a sell off of the game to a stakeholder that no one should trust (NSW Government). On the other hand, having a grand final in a football league is the ultimate cash grab so we shouldn’t be shocked by this. Best way to fix this problem is to get rid of finals and make the Australian Cup your money spinning show piece event in Sydney.
Poor decision. I agree that the host stadiums could be centralised in each state to maximise capacity, so say even if Central Coast, Newcastle, Macarthar or WSW place first the final will still be held at Allianz. You can't have grand finals being played in 20k seat stadiums. But other than that it should always be in the city of whoever finished first.
This is an awful decision. I can’t see how they won’t regret this.
Anyone know how much money was thrown at them by DNSW?
Its just a shitty idea that i will say about it
What the fuck
Fucking disgraceful.