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The plug has been pulled on another free ticket offer by Gold Coast United owner Clive Palmer – but the Queensland government have been portrayed as the party-poopers.
Billionaire Palmer lost a reported $250,000 when he threw the gates open for last Sunday’s Skilled Park clash with Central Coast – only for the game to be called off after 19 minutes due to a water-logged pitch.
Palmer had hoped to repeat the grand gesture in a future home game – but only if the state government, who own Skilled Park, “did the right thing” and waived the fees for last Sunday’s washout.
Stadiums Queensland – who manage the ground for the state government – labelled United’s request a “ridiculous notion”, saying other major sporting events around the country had been called off due to rain but had not demanded compensation.
However, United believe they are within their rights due to the state of the much criticised Skilled Park pitch.
Both United coach Miron Bleiberg and Mariners mentor Graham Arnold rated the surface the worst in the A-League, saying it contributed to Sunday’s match being called off.
Kiwi international – and United keeper Glen Moss – said he was not surprised that the much-hyped weekend match had been abandoned after looking at the “abysmal” surface.
“The surface has not been up to standard all season and we were worried that it was only a matter of time before we encountered a situation like the one on Sunday,” Moss said in his Gold Coast Bulletin column on Friday.
“Club owner Clive Palmer pays top dollar so we can play at the Coast’s best venue but the team and our supporters sadly aren’t getting much in return.
“What burns me the most is that it happened when it did, on a day that could have rivalled any grand final.”
Palmer has since called on the state government to cut him a better deal, saying it was a “disgrace” that he paid over $100,000 a game to use Skilled Park, only to be provided a surface of that quality – or lack thereof.
“We are all very disappointed that the game had to be abandoned due to the state of the pitch,” Palmer said.
“It is such a shame that the supporters didn’t get to see how good the team is and how committed they were to putting on a good show and winning the match.”
But there was a silver lining to the dark clouds hovering over the washed out clash – United are clearly buoyed that a club record for an A-League Skilled Park game, 10,146, braved the horrific conditions to attend the Central Coast clash.
It was a big improvement from the league-worst average of less than 2800 who have usually arrived for Skilled Park games this season.
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