Auckland FC are at home at Go Media Mt Smart Stadium. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
- Auckland FC want to host any A-League finals football at their home ground Go Media Stadium starting 24 May
- Increasing stadium capacity considered
- Australian Professional Leagues (APL) are in discussions with Eden Park for a potential grand final
- APL gets money from ticket sales not the clubs playing in the finals
Auckland FC have lifted their first piece of silverware in front of their home fans but the expansion A-League club is chasing a rare double and are determined to do it all at their home ground in Penrose.
The Premiers Plate, awarded for finishing top of the league, is locked away in Auckland FC's trophy cabinet - which is still to be built - and the uniquely-shaped grand final silverware is now in their sights.
Coach Steve Corica was clear that he wanted to win it all this season.
"The big picture is winning the grand final we want the [players] to celebrate once we get the Premiers Plate and enjoy that because it is really special but at the end of the day the big trophy is the grand final so that's what we are working towards and if we could do the double that would be something unheard of that a club in the first season wins the double."
Should Auckland FC progress to the 2024/25 season grand final the club would host the game, as the top qualifier, but they might not have the final say on some of the finer details.
Auckland FC supporters during the A-League football match between Auckland FC v Wellington Phoenix held at Go Media Stadium - Auckland. Photo: Brett Phibbs / www.photosport.nz
Who decides where A-League finals are played?
The Australian Professional Leagues (APL) - who run the A-League - take control of the finals away from the clubs and sign-off when and where.
They also take all of the ticket revenue.
The finals series starts with elimination finals (between clubs who finish the regular season in 3rd through 6th), moves on to two weeks of home and away semi-finals followed a week later by the grand final.
Auckland FC have known for weeks that they would be playing semi-finals football and chief executive Nick Becker said the club would opt to play the second leg of the semi-finals series at Go Media Stadium on 24 May against a yet to be determined opponent.
The first leg will be played in Australia on 17 May.
If Auckland were successful in the semi-finals, Becker wanted to be back at their stadium in Penrose for the deciding game.
"I know there are hypothetical conversations going on between the APL, Go Media and Eden Park. To be honest, I'm not 100 percent sure where they've landed, our preference is to stay in the stadium that we have played in all season," Becker said.
"Our fans love it here, the players love playing here but the decision does come down to APL, I do know that Eden Park is unavailable on the Saturday (31 May), that's a preference date for the broadcast, so hopefully, if we did make it through, we would end up at Go Media."
Why not Eden Park?
New Zealand fans and supporters during the New Zealand All Whites v New Caledonia, FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier, Eden Park. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The Blues are playing the Waratahs in a Super Rugby Pacific game at Eden Park on 31 May which would rule out the A-League taking over.
And Becker believed bigger did not necessarily mean better.
Eden Park, which hosted the All Whites' FIFA World Cup qualifier against New Caledonia in March, can hold just under 50,000 fans compared to Go Media Stadium which can hold half that number.
Becker said adding seats to the north bank of Go Media Stadium was being considered for finals football, which would allow just over 30,000 fans to witness what would be the first A-League grand final in New Zealand.
This season Auckland FC had average home crowds of nearly 18,000 per match.
"We've had consistently the biggest crowd across the whole A-League season, Aucklanders have turned up and shown their support and their passion for the club."
Auckland's last home game of the season on Sunday sold out, to bring the club to a total of four matches - first game of season, two derby games against Wellington Phoenix and the Perth Glory clash - selling out. "Plus really strong crowds across all the other games," Becker said.
Sticking with Go Media Stadium for the grand final would also benefit for Auckland FC season ticket holders.
"The preferences is here at Go Media where all of our members would get priority on the seats that they've sat in all season. I think that's a special benefit for them and would love to see that happen."
Selling off the Grand Final
In 2022 the A-League sold the hosting rights to the men's and women's grand finals to Sydney in a three-year deal.
The NSW government reportedly paid up to $20 million to hold the finals for the 2022/23, 2023/24 and 2024/25 season.
The deal was not popular with fans - who wanted the top qualifier for the grand final to have home advantage - and supporters held [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/500485/football-final-plans-for-sydney-dropped protests about the change away from the traditional format.
The APL did a u-turn on the arrangement and cut the deal short by two years.
With an opportunity to potentially host a grand final Becker was pleased that if Auckland progressed to the showpiece event it would be held at home.
"That seemed a bit of a crazy decision at the time and it was actually impressive that the league was able to do a 180 and change that rule.
"Football is such a unique sport, and it's tribalism and the passionate home crowds. I think they should always reward the team that finishes in the highest position with getting to the host the grand final. It's a massive reward for the club, the players and ultimately, the fans as well."
