Sydney strikes new deal with A-League’s grand final format
Sydney will give up exclusive rights to the A-League grand finals and will instead play host to a “Unite” round in January.
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Sydney will give up exclusive rights to the A-League grand finals and will instead play host to a “Unite” round in January.
The Unite round will see all A-League games in that round played in Sydney for four straight days of soccer.
The move scraps a deal inked between the NSW government and the Australian Professional Leagues’ to guarantee the mens and womens grand finals would be played in Sydney until 2025.
The previous deal meant the A-League decider would be played at either Accor Stadium, Allianz Stadium or CommBank Stadium in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
The ripped up agreement followed in the footsteps of the AFL and the NRL, by awarding hosting rights to a city regardless of the clubs involved in the grand final.
Previously, A-League grand final hosting rights were awarded to the side that earnt them as the highest-placed team.
The new move is reminiscent of the NRL’s Magic round and the AFL’s Gather round.
Originally published as Sydney strikes new deal with A-League’s grand final format
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