Adelaide United requests more Friday night games and two Melbourne Victory home clashes this coming A-League season
Adelaide United has requested more Friday night games and Sunday matches before public holidays for the coming A-League season. Plus, have your say — what times do you prefer?
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More Friday night games, Sunday matches before public holidays and two home clashes with its biggest rival are among Adelaide United’s fixture requests this A-League season.
The Reds were due to receive a draft version of the 2019/20 fixtures in the coming days, ahead of Football Federation Australia’s expected release of the schedule next week.
United chief executive Nathan Kosmina said the club had lodged a series of preferences for its 13 matches at Hindmarsh Stadium, during the revamped 29-round campaign.
These included the opportunity to host its round-one fixture — as it did last season against eventual champion Sydney FC — and the continuation of its Remembrance Day home game.
Kosmina said the Reds also hoped for a reduction or realignment of the five late afternoon/evening Sunday matches they staged, which proved challenging for families to attend.
“Friday night is our preferred timeslot,” Kosmina said.
“We understand we’re not going to get 13 Friday night games a year.
“But we’ve strategically positioned the (suggested) Sunday night fixtures around school holidays and public holidays.
“It worked really well on Sundays with our (fans’) kick on the pitch last year, so we’re looking at building Sundays in a similar vein into more of a family friendly day.
“Ultimately we’re at the mercy of FFA in terms of the draw and the other factors that go into the fixture.
“But most of our (requests) are achievable.”
The inclusion of start-up franchise Western United in the 11-team competition meant Adelaide would play 26 regular season games this campaign, one less than previously.
Kosmina was confident traditional foe Melbourne Victory would be one of the six clubs United faced on three occasions in the lopsided fixture.
He said the Reds wanted two of the meetings to take place at Hindmarsh — like last summer — in line with FFA’s criteria for maximising TV figures and attendances in the third match-ups.
“We think that’s of benefit to the league in general, not just to Adelaide United,” said Kosmina, after the Victory home games attracted crowds of 12,115 and 12,866.
“The atmosphere in the broadcast is probably among the best two or three fixtures in the league.
“Whether that’s possible, we don’t know.
“Obviously with that third round of fixtures, there’s a specific metric behind it.
“But a key part of that is commercial and broadcast and it ticks that box.”
Kosmina confirmed Adelaide Oval was not considered to host home-and-away matches.
He said the Reds’ three byes, another new feature of the draw, would alleviate the mid-season fixture congestion which resulted in United playing eight games in 32 days last campaign.