A-League fans have scored a win, forcing the Australia Professional Leagues to kick its loathed grand final deal with the NSW government into touch.
As AAP reported in September, Destination NSW and the APL have negotiated the existing three-year deal and replaced it with “Unite Round” – mirroring the NRL’s Magic Round and AFL’s Gather Round.
Each team in the A-League Men and A-League Women will play across three venues – CommBank Stadium in Parramatta, Moore Park’s Allianz Stadium and Leichhardt Oval – between Friday 12 January and Sunday 14 January 2024.
As a result, both the ALM and ALW grand finals will revert to the traditional system whereby the highest-qualifying team is rewarded with hosting rights.
Central Coast lifted the 2022/23 ALM trophy at a neutral Sydney venue after beating Melbourne City.
“It’s an improved deal, it’s a win, win, win,” APL chair Stephen Conroy told AAP.
“We return to the traditional format and we get more football for football fans.”
The decision to sell hosting rights to the grand finals to Destination NSW was met with derision by fans when it was announced last year.
Fans held protests and the tension spilled over onto the pitch, causing the Melbourne derby to be postponed after a pitch invasion.
Conroy said it was unlikely that the APL would consider taking grand final hosting rights to market again.
“I don’t think with the success of this (negotiated deal) we would need to consider that in the future,” he said.
The APL pocketed $12 million of NSW taxpayer dollars when it agreed the three-year contract last year.
The pick of the fixtures across the weekend is Western Sydney hosting Melbourne City in the ALM, while ALW fans will be treated to a grand final rematch between Sydney FC and Western United.
Unite Round will be an extra round on the ALM calendar, but the ALW will remain at a 22-round season with six clubs giving up home games.
Conroy said NSW Premier Chris Minns had given assurances that upgrades to Leichhardt Oval would ensure the ‘Eighth Wonder of the World’ was suitable to host four of the six ALW games across the weekend.
“He (Minns) acknowledged that there’s works needed,” Conroy said.
“The stadium, from my understanding, is going to be good enough with the promises the premier has made, I think it’s going to be fabulous.”
Friday 12 January 2024
(ALW) Melbourne Victory v Perth Glory, Leichhardt Oval
(ALW) Wellington Phoenix v Central Coast Mariners, Leichhardt Oval
(ALM) Macarthur FC v Western United, CommBank Stadium
(ALM) Melbourne City v Western Sydney Wanderers, CommBank Stadium
Saturday 13 January
(ALW) Canberra United v Adelaide United, Leichhardt Oval
(ALW) Brisbane Roar v Newcastle Jets, Leichhardt Oval
(ALM) Central Coast Mariners v Melbourne Victory, Allianz Stadium
(ALM) Adelaide United v Sydney FC, Allianz Stadium
Sunday 14 January
(ALW) Western Sydney Wanderers v Melbourne City, CommBank Stadium
(ALW) Western United v Sydney FC, Allianz Stadium
(ALM) Brisbane Roar v Newcastle Jets, Allianz Stadium
(ALM) Perth Glory v Wellington Phoenix, CommBank Stadium
Punter
Roar Rookie
YAWN!!!!!
Beach
Roar Rookie
Man, you sure have a way of proving my point.
Punter
Roar Rookie
You do bring such debatable comments to the football tab, it’s truly amazing!!!!
Ed Flanders
Roar Rookie
Huh? All football fans in Australia are fatalistic. It's their thing...
Aiden
Roar Rookie
Brilliant decision
Limo
Roar Rookie
Don't worry no names im sure u will be entertained every day with tv news on NRL sex scandals drug scandals and domestic violence scandals.
Limo
Roar Rookie
You surely can't be a true football fan making such fatalistic comments. You must be an afl or nrl fan saying such words. I am a true football fan and have been attending most nsl matches in the old days and now attend a league football matches. I love the a league ans do my daughters and all their friends the only negativity that sticks in my mind is the DAILY drug and sex scandals that rock the NRL and the tv stations still show their game. . I remember watching our socerros vs European champions in 1976 in front of 4,000 fans. Now the socerros can attract 30,000 fans on a weekday vs a weak opponent. Bring on the new a league football season. A very happy fan
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Lambert Park was used in the 80's the Tigers didnt let Apia use it in those days.
Brendan
Roar Pro
Ha! Yes, yes, I was thinking the same thing.
AGO74
Roar Rookie
Thanks for the tip - watched it and its really good. Did laugh when I heard Kossy bringup the Sydney/East Coast bias - very reminiscent of a regular poster on here lol....
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
I think we're all saying the same thing Beach. Your comment that the NSW government could see they had a turkey on their hands actually captures it pretty well and reflects my comment. If fans had embraced the concept and joyously screamed 'more, more' the NSW government wouldn't have seen a turkey. But the fans groaned and they saw a turkey, as you say.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
I didnt realise that VAR is not only back its upgraded. Waz continues his campaign of misinformation he said it was gone. Stop pretending your an insider of some sort. The problem I have with VAR is its new cost is 1.5m, if the A-league is desperate for money then they would have gotten rid of it. I would get rid of it, if it cost over 500k, 1.5m a season is a non goer cost wise. For something ike the premier league thats a drop in the sand ok let it foul up the EPL and whoever else. The refreshing thing of watching the W-league was no VAR.
Grem
Roar Rookie
Because it is the A Leagues and we saw what The Matildas did.
Brendan
Roar Pro
On a side note, I’ve just watched “ Adelaide United | The People’s Club” on YouTube. It’s an excellent documentary. And yes, the fabled “pissant town” quote is mentioned!
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
To make this happen the NSW government didnt even need the APl. How many times have CCM, Wellington,Perth,Newcastle and Western United moved home games for a tiny piece of cash , it many cases it sounded like less than 100k. So all you needed to do was look for a round where all Sydney teams were playing at home 300k for the other clubs and the venues which the NSW government already owns. They have paid 6-7 million a year for that. The other flipside is the NSW government now has to pay to advertise this interstate in all other states plus Wellington and promote the A-league in the process and they can do this way ahead of the event instead of waiting for the grand final opponents to be know. For example magic round advertising was non stop for the NRL in Sydney.
Punter
Roar Rookie
Give me something to debate instead of just a wide sweeping comment just because you felt like saying it. Echo chamber, haha. Like I said give us something rational to discuss & happy to debate, instead of coming in with RUBBISH!!!!
Garry
Roar Rookie
renovations are planned but its still ok to go there now ps its only for the womens games
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
administration is the reason why the sport has failed for over 70 years in this country, its always 1 step forwards (removing the GF from sydney) and 2 steps back (unite round) like usual.
Steven Harris
This round should be entirely played at Homebush..Friday to Sunday 2 games on 3 Saturday 3 Sunday one ticket entry to all games..why bring the AWL into it ?..
Beach
Roar Rookie
On what grounds? Wish fulfilment? The Roar football forums have become an echo chamber, a sort of a magic circle club where any uncomfortable views are treated like a fart in church, regardless of likely veracity. That response, Punter, was a prime example. No attempt whatsoever to apply any level of rationality.