Every time I watch a football match in Gosford I cringe.
Yes, the crowds are consistent, but what I really worry about is all the money the Central Coast Mariners are losing to rent.
A crowd of 9000 in a town of 300,000 is reasonable, but I hate to know how much money is going down the toilet, resulting in the Mariners’ shoe-string budget.
I have heard that for the Mariners to “break even” they need to attract 14,000 fans to Bluetongue Stadium – a feat they have only managed once this season.
They are in a lot of trouble financially.
They couldn’t even get a sponsor for their first Asian Champions League match in Korea.
How do they avoid the same troubles in future years?
The answer, is selling home games.
The Mariners have already taken a step in the right direction by having talks with Sydney’s Brookvale Oval for a one-off match next season, where they need to get about 4000 fans to break even.
Yet they have already missed an opportunity by having their ACL home games in Gosford.
In my opinion, they should have sold their home games to ether northern Sydney or Wollongong, opening the Mariners up to a new supporter base in either region.
So what would happen if the Mariners sell some home games to Sydney?
I think that Gosford Council would wise up and lower their rent to keep their only national sporting side in Gosford.
The fans would start to come to more games to show their support, and the club would get more members from untouched areas.
Heck, if the matches they sell to north Sydney are against Sydney teams, then big crowds could be expected.
I think three games is the magic number of games to sell, leaving Bluetongue Stadium with ten games.
They will be able to remain a Gosford side, but they could also pull a profit – something that will never happen if they continue to play all their games in Gosford.
Epiquin
Guest
Since when is chats wood the Northern Beaches? And I get accused of not knowing the area...
Epiquin
Guest
Was born in the area and have lived here my entire life. Don't tell me I don't know the area!
Mick
Guest
More crowd hysteria. Not sure what you have to be embarrassed about Bill. Does having a "provincial" team so close to a major population centre upset you in some way? Does CCM's achievements thus far detract from your global vision of the HAL? I dont get it mate. The crowds up here are certainly an issue that needs to be rectified, but the constant wishing-away of one of the most succesful teams in the league is bewildering. We should be celebrating a great win today, but it's just the usual whining about crowds. All that said - I agree with the end-of-the-worlder's in this - The people of the central coast need to show that they deserve a team in the national league. Owners wont bleed forever.
bill boomer
Guest
I'm hearing that CCM only pulled two thousand to a champions league game. I'm pretty sure Tasmania would do better than that. It has to be a mistake. If not it's pretty damned embarrassing. A win maybe but a dreadful result.
Squizz
Guest
Talk of cheap stadium costs at NSO and Brookvale are illusory. They are purely one-off teasers. Brookvale have upped the rent for Manly this year and have indicated it will go further. Any upgrade (needed if it is to host regular HAL games) will again lead to higher rent costs. The same thing will happen at NSO if it is upgrade to HAL standard. I also fail to see how anyone that would travel to the NSO aren't already going to the Allianz to watch SFC. North Sydney is the graveyard of sporting teams.
bill boomer
Guest
So a comprehensive slap down to me re Tas.
fadida
Guest
Ah, an area of expertise for me BB (even more so than Code Wars). As a relocated Tasmanian (it was relocate or be taken over by South Melbourne), I believe Tasmania is unviable sadly. Reasons? 1) an appalling economy. Corporate support would be a major hurdle, particularly given..... 2) crowds would average 5-6k I'd predict. Given the teeth pulling agony of the Roar's endless debates over the viability of CCM and the Heart, based soley on bigger crowds than Tasmania would get, could our sanity survive another team in "crisis"? 3) there may be no national team (cricket aside), but Tasmania is essentially an AFL state. This impacts points 1 &2 4) no appropriate stadium. Hobart has a cricket ground which is in use in summer and totally unsuitable. Hobart has the greater football culture. The main Tasmanian ground has an artificial surface The north of the state has a great surface (Aurora), but it is an oval. 5k crowds in a 20k oval stadium look terrible, and impacts on atmosphere. Southerners historically won't travel more than 15 minutes to anything, so the 2 hour straight and easy drive to the north is out of the question. True! Crowds away from the major population centre are therefore badly affected 5) while improving, Tasmania has only produced 2-3 A-league quality players some it's inception (Jesse Curran and Jeremy Walker - both from the NW of the state - a separate story). Lack of home grown players makes identifying with a local side more difficult (we are a parochial lot) therefore potentially affecting crowds when the team inevitably struggle (would have the lowest budget , no marquee) Tasmania sadly isn't a pod prospect at the moment. The league should focus on where the population is - a second NZ side, Qld, NSW, South Melbourne Hellas (joke)
AZ_RBB
Guest
sauce bottles, flames, palm trees, music......all we need is some good meat and we have ourselves a solid BBQ.
1860melbourne
Guest
Forget relocation talk. Too much hard work has gone in to building the club to what it is today. Next season will be season 10 of the a league. I imagine contracts with stadiums will be up for negotiation. Unless owners of clubs did something silly and signed up for 20 year tenancy agreement.
Batou
Guest
The Entrance vs Palm Beach Woy Woy vs Manly Nah, the Central Coast and the Northern Beaches are completely different. It even takes ages to drive between them despite the northern tip of the Northern Beaches being pretty close to the southern tip of the Central Coast being fairly close as you have to go all the way out to the Pacific Hwy and up the F3. Up to a 2hr one way trip. I can understand some people from the Hornsby/Berowra area heading up the F3 (M1 these days?) to Gosford but that's about it.
langou
Roar Guru
It would love to see them merge. Imagine the RBBs reaction when the CCM jazz band rocks up or the health hazard that could occur when someone lights a flare too close to the sauce bottles and palm trees
langou
Roar Guru
I just realised that I am arguing on both sides of the code war. Having a code war against yourself is a sure sign you spend to much time on The Roar
bill boomer
Guest
Were they to relocate and i believe that eventualy they will where would they go? We could have a real "code war" by stealing a march on afl and be first national sport (cricket aside) to have a team in Tasmania. I suspect it would be well supported on that basis. No competition and chance to dominate in one state at least. Thoughts?
Lachlan
Guest
The Northern Beaches is kind of similar to the central coast in lifestyle, but they can't get to Gosford easily. The rest of the North shore - don't even bother. They are Sky Blue.
fadida
Guest
"Socceroos" may be a stupid name but at least we're international :D :D :D
AZ_RBB
Guest
Rename them Western Sydney Wanderers and all will be fine.
Franko
Guest
Right, I thought there was an established club in Sydney? My mistake...
langou
Roar Guru
If it's called football, why is the national team called Socceroos? P.S Bring back South Melbourne
Kane Cassidy
Roar Guru
Monaco would have already been all over that. :)
Mike
Roar Guru
That's what I was thinking too. While I'd love to have much bigger attendances and greater atmospheres, I'd hate for the "Sydney derby, such an awesome match!" to become "Oh, a Sydney derby. Wasn't there one just a few weeks ago?"