With news breaking that consistent drainage issues at Allianz Stadium in Sydney could potentially see the venue shut-down and fallow across much of the summer, the question of the quality of the original design is a relevant one.

Simply, one would be well within their rights to ask how $828 million could have been spent on a new venue that, in three short years, has proven to be problematic and in need of a surface refurbishment.

No doubt plenty made a few quid from the construction, and peripherals would also have profited from the major project.

Where are the consultants, the experts, the engineers, the scientists, the spin doctors and builders who told us this was going to be a special place, Sydney FC’s long-term home, and a venue that would draw more and more people to matches thanks to the wonderful facilities?

I call BS on the entire stadium. I’ve been there, was not particularly impressed considering the price tag, and what we have seen since 2022 in terms of the way water is distributed in very poor conditions, makes Allianz a dud when it comes to modern stadia.

Plenty of people along the journey appear to have gotten things very wrong. Now, taxpayers’ funds will be used to fix the issues, or at least attempt to do so, and one of the A-League’s most followed teams looks likely to be nomadic again, after waiting patiently for the stadium to be built in the first place.

Compensation should be on the cards if and when the Sky Blues are cast aside during the summer, and plenty of it.

Most particularly upsetting is the fact that for the first time in A-League history, the stadium situation is looking quite healthy, despite plenty of negative ninnies failing to acknowledge that fact.

Auckland made a real splash at Go Media Stadium and after a season to remember, will pull big crowds into what is a good-sized venue for a well-followed A-League team.

With the Wanderers building a powerful and improved squad after what was a season of rejuvenation in 2024/25, Wanderland is getting back close to something like its former self.

It has been small incremental growth at Western United, but Ironbark Fields has been an unmitigated success, with the team enjoying and performing well at the venue. The fans are coming, in a trickle, yet a long-term plan it is.

Western United fans at Ironbark Fields. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

A 13 per cent increase on home crowds for the season just passed was encouraging, as was the 12 per cent increase achieved by Macarthur Bulls in the south-west of Sydney.

AAMI Park continues to be a perfect home for Melbourne Victory, with co-tenant Melbourne City not pulling its weight. They are unlikely to do so in 2025/26 despite the fresh championship silverware they have in the trophy cabinet.

Anyone with a negative view on Coopers Stadium in Adelaide has either never been to the ground or is flat out determined to deride the A-League. It is a perfect venue for a team that punches to its weight and beyond, with many a wild and passionate A-League night fuelled by the closeness and vocal nature of the fans.

HBF Park can be a terrific venue if attended well. Sadly, Perth Glory have not deserved that to be the case for most of recent history.

A circuit breaker is needed, yet now upgraded, it is far from the venue’s fault when it comes to poor crowds of around 6,000 for the 2024/25 campaign.

Weirdly, that was actually a solid eight per cent increase on the previous season and repeated, following better play this coming season, might see Perth back and battling for a place in the finals. Brisbane will be hopeful of the same, yet the constant language emanating from the Sunshine State is one of frustration with Suncorp Stadium.

The cavernous venue that rocks when the Broncos are in the house does nothing for Brisbane Roar, especially as long as they remain low on the ladder and struggling to draw more than 5,000 people to the stadium.

Empty seats at Suncorp Stadium. (Albert Perez/Getty Images)

The space and silence is worse than what we currently witness in the west, and whilst every Tom, Dick and Harriet has a view on where money should be spent to find them a better and more fitting home, the problem lingers within inaction.

McDonald Jones Stadium has and can be a good fit for the Jets, with no other real option likely to open up in the Hunter and the club is best to focus on getting back into the finals after some lean years.

Sky Stadium in Wellington might be a little big, but the Phoenix have history there, the pitch plays well, and it is far from horrific to watch thanks to the passionate support that shows up in the afternoon time slots.

After two years of glory, it was sad to see Industree Group Stadium less attended last season, and it was a battle for the Mariners from the opening day. Yet the stadium is perfect in the context of the league.

After 20 years of A-League competition and the developments and upgrades that have taken place, never before has the vast majority of A-League matches been played in venues that tick the boxes for most fans.

Brisbane and Sydney will be problematic this coming season, with the drainage at Allianz a must-fix and the Sky Blues certain to be elsewhere for portions of the season, or perhaps even longer.

Now all we need is a few more people to realise how good things are in the most part and continue to increase attendances in 2025/26.