As we reach the halfway point of the A-League Men season, the PFA has released its player pitch and atmosphere ratings.
PITCH RATINGS
At the halfway point of the 2025-26 A-League Men season, HBF Park is the players’ highest rated pitch among regular venues used in the competition.
For overall quality, Perth Glory’s home pitch has scored an average of 4.6 on a scale of 1-5 in seven matches to date.
Meanwhile, Kayo Stadium was given a perfect five for Brisbane Roar’s sole fixture there against Wellington Phoenix on January 3.
Away team players are asked to assess the pitch on four metrics, the atmosphere, and other aspects of matchday after each match. Usually, one player rates each match.
On occasion, additional players are asked to provide feedback, including home team players, but scores shown weight all matches equally. Players have provided feedback for all bar one match in the 2025-26 season so far.
Other pitches to score well are McDonald Jones Stadium (4.5), Coopers Stadium, Leichhardt Oval, Campbelltown Sports Stadium (all 4.3), and AAMI Park (4.2). It is noted that Leichhardt’s condition since deteriorated to the point where fixtures had to be postponed.
The regularly used stadia with the worst average ratings are Suncorp Stadium and CommBank Stadium (both 3.1) and Go Media Stadium (3.2). Sunshine Coast Stadium was given a rating of three by a Newcastle Jets player for Brisbane’s fixture there on November 9.
Seven of the nine surveys collected for Suncorp Stadium said the pitch was ‘too hard’. Its average rating for ‘smoothness’ has been 3.4. It is the only pitch that has been marked as ‘too fast’ so far (by two players).
For CommBank Stadium, the pace and hardness were usually deemed ‘about right’, but its average rating for ‘smoothness’ has been 3.1.
Five of the six players who have assessed Go Media Stadium rated the pitch as ‘too slow’. No other venue has received that feedback more than once.
There is even some constructive feedback for HBF Park’s highly regarded pitch; it was deemed ‘too hard’ by four out of nine respondents.
One of the recommendations of the PFA’s new player Visions is for the establishment of a new national football infrastructure body featuring all industry stakeholders.
PLAYER COMMENTS:
“The pitch needed to have grass on it, not just dirt and painted green.” – Away player at Suncorp Stadium
“Terrible pitch to play on. Less quality than normal from both teams. Concert couple days before the game and pitch left in a bad state.” – Away player at Suncorp Stadium
“Pitch had divots was very soft and gave way.” – Away player at CommBank Stadium
“Overall the pitch was good. There was one section of the pitch that was definitely a lot softer and the ball didn’t roll as well.” – Away player at polytec Stadium
ATMOSPHERE RATINGS
For atmosphere, Auckland FC’s Go Media Stadium leads the way with an average rating of 4.5 from six matches.
Kayo Stadium also received a perfect score of 5/5 for atmosphere.
Adelaide United home matches at Coopers Stadium have scored 4.4. Sydney FC’s three matches at Leichhardt Oval averaged 4.3 and their first match at Allianz Stadium was rated a 4.0.
Matches at Macarthur FC’s Campbelltown Sports Stadium have the worst atmosphere on average (1.7) while the home matches of Newcastle Jets, Central Coast Mariners, and Wellington Phoenix have also scored less than the midpoint of 3.0 on a 1-5 scale.
The PFA’s soon-to-be-released A-League Men player Vision identifies atmosphere and active fans as one of the biggest issues for the league to solve through effective fan engagement and suitable matchday infrastructure.
About the PFA post-match surveys
Since 2009, the PFA has surveyed players after matches to assess the quality of the pitch and the match atmosphere. The survey has gradually expanded to cover more areas, including officiating, workplace standards, and weather conditions. The purpose of the surveys is to inform decision-making and improve the industry for players, clubs, and fans.
2025-26 A-League Men Stadium Ratings – Pitch Quality
* Less than three games played at the venue
| Stadium | Average | Games Surveyed |
|---|---|---|
| Kayo Stadium* | 5.0 | 1 |
| HBF Park | 4.6 | 8 |
| McDonald Jones Stadium | 4.5 | 6 |
| Leichhardt Oval* | 4.3 | 3 |
| Campbelltown Sports Stadium | 4.3 | 6 |
| Coopers Stadium | 4.3 | 7 |
| AAMI Park | 4.2 | 14 |
| Sky Stadium | 4.0 | 7 |
| Allianz Stadium* | 4.0 | 1 |
| polytec Stadium | 3.8 | 6 |
| Go Media Stadium | 3.2 | 6 |
| CommBank Stadium | 3.1 | 7 |
| Suncorp Stadium | 3.1 | 4 |
| Sunshine Coast Stadium* | 3.0 | 1 |
2025-26 A-League Men Stadium Ratings – Atmosphere
| Stadium | Average | Games Surveyed |
| Kayo Stadium* | 5.0 | 1 |
| Go Media Stadium | 4.5 | 6 |
| Coopers Stadium | 4.4 | 7 |
| Leichhardt Oval* | 4.3 | 3 |
| Allianz Stadium* | 4.0 | 1 |
| Sunshine Coast Stadium* | 4.0 | 1 |
| AAMI Park (Melbourne Victory home games) | 3.8 | 6 |
| CommBank Stadium | 3.6 | 7 |
| HBF Park | 3.6 | 4 |
| Suncorp Stadium | 3.1 | 4 |
| AAMI Park (Melbourne City home games) | 3.0 | 8 |
| Sky Stadium | 2.9 | 7 |
| polytec Stadium | 2.6 | 6 |
| McDonald Jones Stadium | 2.5 | 6 |
| Campbelltown Sports Stadium | 1.7 | 6 |
