Unite Round
Unite Round is an annual A-Leagues event in which all fixtures are played in one city for one week every A-League Men and Women season. Since its inception in the 2023–24 season, the event has been held in Sydney ever since in partnership with Destination NSW.
Background
[edit]In December 2022, the Australian Professional Leagues made a decision to move the next three A-Leagues Grand Finals (2023, 2024 and 2025) would be hosted in Sydney in a deal with Destination NSW. The decision was met with universal backlash from fans and clubs and was demanded to be reversed. The decision had the possibly of being reversed during September 2023, in response to the unpopularity with the fans on the decision, and the potential to be replaced with a "Magic Round-style" event.[1]
History
[edit]On 18 October 2023, the Australian Professional Leagues officially walked-back the Grand Final decision, renegotiating the contract into Unite Round as the replacement to the Grand Final decision, first to be held in January 2024 until the remainder of the contract.[2][3][4] Fixtures of the first Unite Round fixtures were set with confirmed dates to run from 12 to 14 January 2024 in twelve fixtures compiled of all participating A-League Men and Women teams in the 2023–24 season, set to be played at three stadiums each hosting four matches; Allianz Stadium, CommBank Stadium, Leichhardt Oval.[5] The 2023–24 Unite Round event attracted a total attendance of 47,425.
The event claimed as a successful debut, confirmed a second Unite Round set ahead of 2024–25 A-Leagues seasons, to be played during November 2024 and two stadiums to be used; Allianz Stadium and Leichhardt Oval.[6] Due to the 2024–25 A-League Men season having an odd number amount of teams, this meant one team had to receive a bye for the Unite Round matchweek which was Melbourne City. It will host two derbies for the first time, those being the F3 Derby and Sydney Derby.
Arrangements
[edit]As Unite Round was introduced after the release of the 2023–24 A-Leagues fixtures, the 2023–24 Unite Round event changed fixture details in certain matchweeks of both the A-League Men's and Women's original fixture lists. The men's Unite Round fixtures were used as an additional matchweek (Round 27) to the regular season, and the women's Unite Round fixtures replaced the existing matchweek of Round 12 where the venues and times were changed to the specific Unite Round details.[7]
With the venue change to the A-League Women fixtures to the original matches, all home teams had to miss out on hosting that fixture so A-League Women club members would still be provided access to formerly their teams home match turned into Unite Round, though the A-Leagues worked with former home clubs to ensure they receive any normal treatments of being the home club. Club members didn't directly receive access to A-League Men matches, but instead received a discount to purchase tickets to their clubs matches. A three-day pass was admitted to receive access to any match to attend over the three days of the event in general admission areas.[7]
For the first time ahead of the 2024–25 Unite Round event, complimentary tickets for full-season club members were introduced as they can access their club's A-League Men and Women Unite Round fixtures, whilst non full-season club members receive a discount to their clubs fixtures.[8]
List of Unite Rounds
[edit]| Season | Dates | City | Venues (matches) | Attendance | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men | Women | Total | ||||
| 2023–24 | 12–14 January 2024 | Sydney | Allianz Stadium (4), CommBank Stadium (4), Leichhardt Oval (4) | 36,203 | 11,222 | 47,425 |
| 2024–25 | 22–24 November 2024 | Sydney | Allianz Stadium (6), Leichhardt Oval (6) | |||
See also
[edit]- Gather Round, the equivalent event in the Australian Football League since 2023
- Magic Round (NRL), the equivalent event in the National Rugby League since 2019
References
[edit]- ^ Clarke, George (12 September 2023). "A-Leagues mull NSW grand final call, Magic Round mooted". A-Leagues.
- ^ "A-Leagues announce first ever Unite Round to take place this season". A-Leagues. 18 October 2023. Archived from the original on 18 October 2023.
- ^ "A-Leagues scrap controversial Grand Final decision in favour of Unite Round". ABC News. 18 October 2023. Archived from the original on 17 October 2023.
- ^ Lynch, Joey (18 October 2023). "A-Leagues scrap Grand Final deal in favour of 'Unite Round". ESPN. Archived from the original on 18 October 2023.
- ^ "What is Unite Round? How does it work? Key questions answered". A-Leagues. 18 October 2024.
- ^ "Unite Round launched for 2024-25: Everything you need to know". A-Leagues. 18 July 2024.
- ^ a b "Unite Round FAQs". A-Leagues. Archived from the original on 14 December 2023.
- ^ "Unite Round 2024-25: What's new this season?". A-Leagues. 18 July 2024.