Mariners Poised to take Control of - Bluetongue

[midfielder]

We look like making the biggest move ever and take control of BLUETOUNGE.

This is massive news and if it comes off ............ this will set the club up for years to come.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/football/a-league/home-ground-advantage-as-coast-take-control-of-stadium/2008/09/26/1222217523727.html

Home ground advantage as Coast take control of stadium

Michael Cockerill

September 27, 2008


CENTRAL Coast Mariners are poised to shore up their long-term future by taking over the management rights of Bluetongue Stadium from part-time benefactor John Singleton.

Just a few months after returning their first profit, and a few months before they take their turn in the Asian Champions League, the Mariners are set to make perhaps their most significant move off the field by assuming control of their home ground. It is believed negotiations have been in progress for some time and that a deal is imminent.

Significantly, Football Federation Australia has been privy to discussions, although chief executive Ben Buckley declined to comment yesterday, as did Singleton.

With the FFA set to announce its strategy for the 2018 World Cup bid before the end of the year, gaining control of the stadium in Gosford is a bonus - even though its 20,000-seat capacity will have to be doubled to host World Cup games.

Assuming the deal proceeds, it would mean three of the eight A-League clubs - Perth Glory, Central Coast and Adelaide United - will effectively have primary tenancy of their home stadiums, an important sign of progress for the competition.

Singleton, who has backed special projects for the Mariners during the past four years - notably the retention of coach Lawrie McKinna and the recruitment of high-profile stars John Aloi$i and Mark Bosnich - is ready to hand the stadium over to the club despite his long association with his first love, rugby league.

While the deal does not end the chances of the Central Coast having its own professional rugby league team, it does weaken the bargaining position of the NRL. Singleton has long made known his frustration over the NRL's failure to allow a team in Gosford, and handing the stadium over to a rival code is a pointed message.

 

[FFC Mariner]

This (if it happens) is probably one of the most significant moves we have made since our inception.

Assume we are negotiating to buy Singo's rights which means the knuckledraggers have to pay us rent for their token games each year.

Bows to CCM management

 

[RADINHO]

god willing it happens

 

[Bex]

Great news for the Mariners! Although, I do wonder how much money is involved in such a deal; its not like we're raking in the millions. And we're modestly in the black in an environment where we're being quite frugal with player payments so its not like we've got money to burn.

Are the management rights to the stadium a profitable business? I guess if its a profitable business, then it is a smart decision for the future, but I do wonder about the size of the lump sum and associated cash flow issues. Hmmm, perhaps its a lease rather than a lump sum. That would be good.

I imagine its going to be really expensive to run an NRL game at Bluetongue after this! ;D

 

[midfielder]

Bex

What about Double the price for beer at NRL games and say half the price for Mariners games and charge them more rent

 

[Ted]

BT needs to be used all year round and on a regular basis. IF the NRL were to decide not to use it, the CCM will need to cover the short fall and there goes any future profit or growth of the club. I don't think we are ready to commit to such a huge undertaking just yet...

 

[Razorback]

What does this mean to the proposed rumours about a 40k seat stadium at Tuggerah. Is there enough room to expand to 40k to host a world cup match? I think engineers would have a real problem, my only thoughts are they add another tier to behind the goals (but the bowls club would have to be bought) then a stand at the other end (but what about the road and bridge) and finnally perhaps a 3rd tier on the western grandstand, but I still doubt that that would double the stadiums capacity.

 

[Bex]

Theres an entire thread on that one Razorback. Anything is possible if you've got the right people on side and throw enough money at it, but I think 40k at Bluetongue would take a huge amount of both and can't see it happening for a long while yet without some pretty serious backing of the state/federal government. Perhaps not impossible with current talk about world cup efforts but it will take even more than that to get the necessary people on side on the coast for such a development.

 

[Razorback]

I agree, I really can't see it happening as much I'd lik it to but if we host the WC anything can happen. Not sure what thread it is on but someone posted the new stadiums for South Africa and they look amazing, it would be interesting to see what stadiums are renovated are even brand new projects if we were to host the cup

 

[offtheball]

What has happened to last season's promised new scoreboard and permanent TV screen?

 

[FFC Mariner]

Do we really need a scoreboard?? A decent clock and screen are a must but in football, the scores are easily remembered.

 

[Jorome Alexander Bennett]

This is truly great news.

Again the Mariners have come up with staggeringly good off field management.

My admiration for Lyall Gorman and Peter Turnbull could not be greater.

After this deal goes through, every home game equals truckloads of cash.

One of the agents of destruction of the Mariners could of been a Rugby League team. But owning the stadium management rights changes the situation so much. I now want to see the Central Coast Beagles, to fill the coffers of the blue and yellow all year round.

Gorman and Turnbull, using long and clear vision, are truly on the way to making the Central Coast Mariners the centre of football excellence.

 

[Ted]

I see it as too much too soon and could just as easily be our own undoing if anything goes sour.

 

[midfielder]

Ted

The FFA will play U 23 games here and Maltadals here, RL has to play games here ....... everytime the subject comes up the leagues all want to put a club here. They will keep playing.

All the profits, singage, food profits or rents to stall owners comes to us all games. We have a womens league and as I said FFA are in on the deal so maybe new home for the Maltadals.

I would just love if we controlled the ground as you walk in pictures of Mariners players and maybe our logo painted on the sides of the stadium.

We are very lucky I think we have the best management in the league ......... imagine in we had the Choppers mamagement.

 

[Ted]

I prefer not to think about us having the choppers management and agree we are one of the best run teams in the comp. I just have concerns about jumping in the deep while we are still learning to dog paddle. If there is more to the story and the CCM directors have had inside info and an NRL team is relocating here very soon (most likely) then this may be why this is being pushed through. Again though if the NRL (or relocating team) decides to not use the stadium then we may have problems.

 

[Bex]

The Mariners have made no secret in the past of the fact they're looking for alternative methods of raising funds including property investments. I don't think this is any sort of hurried deal.

 

[FFC Mariner]

Dont forget, the people who run this club are serious business owners in their own right.

They would have run the numbers and wouldnt be doing this if it cost them $$$.

 

[rosko]

There is no worries even if an NRL team doesn't relocate here, the ground is always used regularly by NRL teams playing here. The NRL will always push for games to be played on the Coast, and there is no other venue available.
Lets hope a roof may appear over the Northern end!

 

[Jorome Alexander Bennett]

Stadium expansion isn't an option, imo.

It's all about making the cash from vili's pies.

 

[marinersman]

Hopefully it means the bears seats are ripped out and replaced with "Mariners" seats. I farking hate those bears words in our stadium.