Mariners deny Singo's exit spells financial doom

[clarence]

Shouldn't need to rely upon constantly winning to get the basic crowd they need to keep the club financial. That wouldn't be a very good business model. Getting into the finals should be enough for that IMO.

Hassett's article mentions the struggle to gain other revenue streams.

The crowd attendances is one revenue stream, then there's the business partners, sponsorships, royalties from Foxtel/FFA and the list goes on.

But the business of being a Football club is still basically a seasonal business, even the AFL & NRL clubs feel the pinch in the off season. Working a way to create business opportunities away from the typical Football Club revenues - in season or out - would , of course, be a goal the Board is trying to reach.

I think if the Mariners *can* get the CoFE up and running, or at least get construction under way, that will attract some more serious interest from business partners.

The fact they are still proceeding with the project in these much stricter financial times for corporate credit, is very encouraging, and I feel it is something the club should be using as a marketing tool to prospective business partners, sponsors and even marketing it to season ticket holders. Folks will feel more confident knowing the club is still investing in the project.

If the club can get the money to proceed with this project (it seems they have done just that), and able to get loans for this enterprise even in these tougher times, then it must be:
a) a sensible client to lend that sort of money to, and
b) the project itself has some strengths to it too.


AND it is something that they said they would do, and appear to be doing just that (which is sometimes NOT the case with a number of other sporting clubs' "visions")

I suspect there's a number of businesses, not just up here on the Coast but elsewhere, who are standing back and waiting to see what comes of the A-League, and this club past, the 5 year mark and then beyond.

There's been a lot of wait and see attitude shown by many interested parties (including fans and their own personal commitment) and it must frustrate the hell out of Lyall and the Board that they have to keep proving themselves, as prudent fiscal managers.

 

[Bex]

Yes, and on the note of other revenue streams, 120 rooms of accommodation and reduced cost for training ground hire and their own accommodation is not a bad start.

 

[dibo]

might be able to host visiting HAL sides in a sports focussed complex with training facilities etc. it would make money for us while being a very attractive option for visiting sides. and for big matches, we'd know where the enemy is staying for a bit of a flares, drums and megaphones display...

 

[Bex]

I share your vision dibo

 

[Honkee]

I share your vision dibo

+1

 

[dru]

might be able to host visiting HAL sides in a sports focussed complex with training facilities etc. it would make money for us while being a very attractive option for visiting sides. and for big matches, we'd know where the enemy is staying for a bit of a flares, drums and megaphones display...

It doesn't just have to be teams playing us either, would be an attractive base for those playing the blue filth and the scum!

 

[midfielder]

might be able to host visiting HAL sides in a sports focussed complex with training facilities etc. it would make money for us while being a very attractive option for visiting sides. and for big matches, we'd know where the enemy is staying for a bit of a flares, drums and megaphones display...

It doesn't just have to be teams playing us either, would be an attractive base for those playing the blue filth and the scum!

Also FFA teams like Joeys, Womens teams, Olympic Squads...

 

[clarence]

might be able to host visiting HAL sides in a sports focussed complex with training facilities etc. it would make money for us while being a very attractive option for visiting sides. and for big matches, we'd know where the enemy is staying for a bit of a flares, drums and megaphones display...

Do I suspect a few 'ninja' type raids on the complex, by persons unknown to us, throwing flares into open windows of visiting teams' player's accommodation at 3AM ?! ;D

 

[FFC Mariner]

........and the CC's NSWPL side, neatly shafting CCF for refusing a JV back before S1.

 

[midfielder]

Any one think Singo .. not putting in more coin is because the CC Bears are said to be in the NRL from either 2012 or 2013..

 

[Honkee]

might be able to host visiting HAL sides in a sports focussed complex with training facilities etc. it would make money for us while being a very attractive option for visiting sides. and for big matches, we'd know where the enemy is staying for a bit of a flares, drums and megaphones display...

Do I suspect a few 'ninja' type raids on the complex, by persons unknown to us, throwing flares into open windows of visiting teams' player's accommodation at 3AM ?! ;D

Or we could go a bit more covert and plant a few of these http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/electronic/8c52/

 

[dibo]

might be able to host visiting HAL sides in a sports focussed complex with training facilities etc. it would make money for us while being a very attractive option for visiting sides. and for big matches, we'd know where the enemy is staying for a bit of a flares, drums and megaphones display...

Do I suspect a few 'ninja' type raids on the complex, by persons unknown to us, throwing flares into open windows of visiting teams' player's accommodation at 3AM ?! ;D

we don't want to damage club property.

........and the CC's NSWPL side, neatly shafting CCF for refusing a JV back before S1.

heh heh heh. good idea. it would meet NSWPL standards for sure. would make a nice base for CCF if it were to meet some sort of hostile takeover...

Any one think Singo .. not putting in more coin is because the CC Bears are said to be in the NRL from either 2012 or 2013..

that holds water.

 

[clarence]

Any one think Singo .. not putting in more coin is because the CC Bears are said to be in the NRL from either 2012 or 2013..

Suspect he has his hands full with the Macquarie Radio Network, media stocks are taking a hiding and he has less ad revenue to play with these days. Not the cash cow they used to be & they have to start rolling out Digital Radio Plus pretty soon - would that cost some $$ too?

Frankly I couldn't give a ..... if he's not directly involved with the Mariners as a benevolent donor. He's never been on the Mariners Board, he IS however, involved with the Stadium Management that the club and everyone else has been critical of.

If he wants to get the Bears up to NRL good luck to him, he has to deal with Florimo & co about that - or are they his employed by him too.

 

[scottmac]

Any one think Singo .. not putting in more coin is because the CC Bears are said to be in the NRL from either 2012 or 2013..

I would say that there would be a fair bit of Singo's coin needed to get that over the line. I still don't see it ever happening, the NRL has for years procrastinated about a CC based team and one would have to wonder, if it was an area so important to their future as we have so often heard, why they have not initiated the process already.
 

 

[uptheguts]

Yes, and on the note of other revenue streams, 120 rooms of accommodation and reduced cost for training ground hire and their own accommodation is not a bad start.

11 home games for the hotel and the approx $750 per week they pay for training, revenue stream agreed, NPV positive, maybe not.

 

[clarence]

Yes, and on the note of other revenue streams, 120 rooms of accommodation and reduced cost for training ground hire and their own accommodation is not a bad start.

11 home games for the hotel and the approx $750 per week they pay for training, revenue stream agreed, NPV positive, maybe not.

That's only considering the A-League seasons - and for vs. Mariners games only too.

What about Victory, Adelaide or Perth or any other distant A-League team who may want to base themselves at Tuggerah for about 2 weeks while they play us and then either Newcastle or Sydney.

Also you have the rep games like the Matildas, and various youth teams - if they have a game scheduled in Sydney, a base just a bit away from the hustle and bustle of Sydney might be the ticket. The rep season is often outside of the A-League or W-League too.

It *could* be possible to have two or three squads staying there during a busy period, both men's, youth & women's teams as well as some who may be resident for work with the Mariners.

BUT... the CoFE might be one of many revenue streams outside of the club competing in the A-League.

They may be able to tie up some corporate conference deals using the facilities at Tuggerah, or they may be able to hire out the training grounds or boutique stadium for inter school sports days, depending on the stadium's flexibility (although Mingara would have to be the better athletics venue).

There maybe a small amount of cashflow coming back to the club's consolidated revenue if they manage the licenced club within it's limitations and don't have any changes to legislation that mess with projections of revenue.

Using the licenced club and CoFE as a separate corporate entity, and I believe they are also making some Commercial Rental property available in that development, they may be able to siphon off some of the costlier player's salary cap with service agreements too.

They could also go into partnership with other businesses for many other ventures, using revenue form the licenced club to go into those ventures and having players becoming involved in business management roles to further their off field careers and again use the service agreement flexibilities.

Once they do have a cashflow separate from the day to day necessity of running the club Football operations and administration, they can become involved in all sorts of ventures if they pop up. Proving they have the expertise to run businesses properly by completing this CoFE will again assist them in being recognised as good potential business partners.

Simply put, the Centre of Football Excellence may just be the start.

 

[uptheguts]

Again agree with the above..... If they can make it payback within the required period banking on this method then all is ok.

$M+ is a fair stretch to build and then rely on a A-League team like Perth, Auckland or North QLD who are already financially struggling. As for the W-League and the juniors.... they generally fly in the day before and fly out the day they play. If I recall the game the juniors played last year in Perth, they flew in the on the morning and then caught the red eye home.

There is not that much funding in the game just yet to have teams train for 2 weeks out of state, considering most teams are within 5 hours flying of each other.

Would be interesting to see the business case behind the development.

 

[clarence]

Again agree with the above..... If they can make it payback within the required period banking on this method then all is ok.

$M+ is a fair stretch to build and then rely on a A-League team like Perth, Auckland or North QLD who are already financially struggling. As for the W-League and the juniors.... they generally fly in the day before and fly out the day they play. If I recall the game the juniors played last year in Perth, they flew in the on the morning and then caught the red eye home. There is not that much funding in the game just yet to have teams train for 2 weeks out of state, considering most teams are within 5 hours of each other.

1. If we offer a better overall package vs. booking a hotel near venue, organising training grounds and possibly having to have a Dr or physio assist the travelling medical people, then we may get the revenue. Clubs do have to stay somewhere except for those cases where they decide to scrimp on the $$.
2. Hopefully the other squads (W-League, NYL) will not have to put up with such inconvenience as the travel on day of match situations you describe. Maybe - if the schedules line up -the Mariners could offer some concessions for the other League squads if their A-League squad bases themselves for our games, the Newcastle and Sydney games all at Tuggerah?

For the record, I'm not some marketing or business management guru either. These are mainly my ideas about where this could all head if things go well.

You are right that the League is pretty small and may not support such plans, particularly if there's a plane about to take off nearby.

But once established and conducting football camps during school holidays, regular trials during Transfer Windows, pres season workouts, winter rep comps, corporate opportunities etc. the Centre will hopefully provide the first alternative revenue stream to actually running the Football Operations & Administration and competing for prize money and sponsorship in the A-League.

The business just has to be up and running smoothly so that possible business partners can come and see it is running well, and be reassured that the Mariners, as a business is worth doing work with for some other project.

 

[uptheguts]

Whoever is backing the project, if they are willing to throw that much $$ at it, perhaps they are willing to give me some cash so I can open a gentlemens club in Baker St. I know what will payback the CAPEX quicker.......

 

[dibo]

Surely they wouldn't be going ahead unless it was NPV positive?