The San Diego Wave have relocated their final regular-season game to the home stadium of opponent Racing Louisville because of field conditions at Snapdragon Stadium.
The game will take place Sunday evening at Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville, Kentucky.
“The safety and well-being of all players is our top priority, and the current field conditions at Snapdragon Stadium, which are the responsibility of a third party, have not met the standards required for a safe playing environment,” the Wave said in a statement Friday.
The team said it will provide details in the future for fans who purchased tickets to the game. The Wave is also planning an official watch party.
Snapdragon Stadium is home to the San Diego State football team. The poor condition of the field was on display Saturday night when the Aztecs hosted Washington State.
The stadium is set to become the home of Major League Soccer expansion team San Diego FC starting next year.
Snapdragon Stadium issued a statement on social media Friday.
“Although we recognize the aesthetics of the field do not meet our desired expectations, we are confident in our readiness to play a match on Sunday in safe conditions. Several factors, including high demand for field use and weather, have affected the turf., but we are dedicated to investing resources, specialized expertise, and advanced technology to address these challenges going forward,” the statement said.
San Diego State contracted Oak View Group to manage the facility, including the grounds. Oak View Group, headquartered in Colorado, did not respond to an email from The Associated Press seeking further comment.
“We apologize to our fans, who have shown unwavering support, and assure you that we are actively working with stadium management to resolve this issue,” the Wave said in their statement. “Our players, fans, and community deserve a safe and top-quality environment for every game.”
