The PFA have today announced the annual A-League Women Stadiums of the Season, with Adelaide United’s Coopers Stadium and Wellington Phoenix’s Hnry Stadium and Porirua Park being voted by the players as the best in the competition.
Adelaide’s Coopers Stadium was voted by the players as the best pitch in the league on average, scoring 4.8 (on a 1-5 scale) from the six games surveyed throughout the season. The boutique stadium also received a 3.8 for average atmosphere.
Wellington’s two stadiums were voted the best in the league on average for atmosphere, with Hnry Stadium receiving a perfect 5.0 score from three games surveyed, while their predominant home ground Porirua Park scored an average of 4.2.
Hnry Stadium also scored very strongly for pitch quality with an average of 4.7 and Porirua Park slightly behind with 3.8.
Adelaide United midfielder and PFA Executive member Dylan Holmes said: “For Coopers Stadium to be voted the best pitch in the A-league Women is a reflection of the world-class quality of the field.
“As an Adelaide United player, I feel privileged to call Coopers Stadium our home ground. The quality of the surface allows for matches to be played at the highest level, which is something that the players across the A-league Women really appreciate. I know players from opposing teams always look forward to matches at the venue.”
Martin Radcliffe, CEO Adelaide Venue Management – operators of Coopers Stadium added: “We’re thrilled that Coopers Stadium has been awarded ‘Best Pitch’ in the Ninja A-League Women’s competition, as voted by the players themselves.
“We take great pride in our playing surface, and this recognition is a strong endorsement of both our facilities and our commitment to providing a premier stage for football.”
Wellington Phoenix General Manager David Dome said: “It’s no surprise to us that our venues have been voted as having the best atmosphere in the Ninja A-League.
“Our fans are unrivalled in their support of our women and have played a major role in the team’s record-breaking regular season.
“We believe their support will prove to be decisive in the upcoming finals.”
PFA Chief Executive Beau Busch said the stadium ratings provided an opportunity to highlight important progress but also to identify where the league is falling short.
“Wellington Phoenix’s home matches have illustrated the players’ belief in the atmosphere that can be cultivated at A-League Women matches and when the club is focused on creating an outstanding experience for fans,” said Busch.
“Whilst Adelaide United’s ability to ensure a quality playing surface at Coopers and Wellington’s match day experience should rightly be celebrated the stadium ratings highlight there is much more that needs to be done to ensure the matchday environment elevates the quality of the football product.
“As recommended in the players’ vision for the A-League Women, Ready for Takeoff, the league must prioritise fit for purpose matchday infrastructure to maximise the enormous opportunity for growth that the competition presents.”
Other high-scoring venues this season included:
- AAMI Park, Melbourne – Pitch: 4.7 | Atmosphere: 3.3
- Home of the Matildas, Melbourne – Pitch: 4.2 | Atmosphere: 3.5
- polytec Stadium, Gosford – Pitch: 4.1 | Atmosphere: 3.1
- Wanderers Football Park, Sydney – Pitch: 3.8 | Atmosphere: 3.5
- McKellar Park, Canberra – Pitch: 3.3 | Atmosphere: 3.7
Standout one-match venues included:
- Maitland Sports Ground, Newcastle – Pitch: 4.0 | Atmosphere: 4.0
- Marconi Stadium, Sydney – Pitch: 4.0 | Atmosphere: 4.0
- Kayo Stadium, Brisbane – Pitch: 4.0 | Atmosphere: 3.0
The top stadiums in the A-League Men’s competition will be revealed during the A-League Men Finals Series later this month.
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. Throughout the season, the players rate A-League Women stadiums on key performance factors after every match.
Selected players assess every ground they play on across four criteria: surface quality, hardness, pace, and smoothness. The players also assess the atmosphere and any extreme weather impacts.
The survey has gradually expanded to cover more areas, including officiating and work workplace standards. The purpose of the surveys is to inform decision-making and improve the industry for players, clubs, and fans.
98 of the 110 A-League Women’s matches were covered by the post-match surveys this season.
Full A-League Women Stadium Ratings:
Pitch quality:
| Venue | Average Overall | Games Surveyed |
| Coopers Stadium | 4.8 | 6 |
| Hnry Stadium | 4.7 | 3 |
| AAMI Park | 4.7 | 3 |
| Home of the Matildas | 4.2 | 6 |
| polytec Stadium | 4.1 | 10 |
| Maitland Sports Ground | 4.0 | 1 |
| HBF Park | 4.0 | 1 |
| Kayo Stadium | 4.0 | 1 |
| Marconi Stadium | 4.0 | 1 |
| Porirua Park | 3.8 | 6 |
| Wanderers Football Park | 3.8 | 8 |
| ctrl:cyber Pitch | 3.6 | 7 |
| McKellar Park | 3.3 | 9 |
| John McEwen Reserve | 3.0 | 1 |
| Allianz Stadium | 3.0 | 1 |
| Sam Kerr Football Centre | 3.0 | 5 |
| Leichhardt Oval | 2.9 | 8 |
| ServiceFM Stadium | 2.8 | 3 |
| No.2 Sportsground | 2.8 | 8 |
| Spencer Park | 2.3 | 9 |
| CommBank Stadium | 1.0 | 1 |
Atmosphere:
| Venue | Average Atmosphere | Games surveyed |
| Hnry Stadium | 5.0 | 3 |
| Porirua Park | 4.2 | 6 |
| Marconi Stadium | 4.0 | 1 |
| Allianz Stadium | 4.0 | 1 |
| John McEwen Reserve | 4.0 | 1 |
| Maitland Sports Ground | 4.0 | 1 |
| Leichhardt Oval | 3.9 | 8 |
| Coopers Stadium | 3.8 | 6 |
| Spencer Park | 3.7 | 9 |
| McKellar Park | 3.7 | 9 |
| Home of the Matildas | 3.5 | 6 |
| Wanderers Football Park | 3.5 | 8 |
| AAMI Park | 3.3 | 3 |
| Sam Kerr Football Centre | 3.2 | 5 |
| No.2 Sportsground | 3.1 | 8 |
| polytec Stadium | 3.1 | 10 |
| Kayo Stadium | 3.0 | 1 |
| ServiceFM Stadium | 2.3 | 3 |
| ctrl:cyber Pitch | 2.0 | 7 |
| HBF Park | 1.5 | 1 |
| CommBank Stadium | 1.0 | 1 |
