As operating costs rise Council considers options for Central Coast Stadium

Facing declining usage and operating losses of up to $1.4 million a year, the Central Coast Council is considering options for the future of its Central Coast Stadium.

Built in 2000 and home to the A-League's Central Coast Mariners, fan numbers at the venue have declined in recent years with it incurring annual operating losses of between $840,000 to $1.4 million.

A report to the Council, the Central Coast Stadium Final Strategy, which was deferred at Council meeting this week, suggests a range of strategies for the venue including attracting more events as well as trying to again attract a naming rights sponsor. It suggest that the Council also look contracting out venue management rights indicating there had been “sufficient interest” in such an opportunity.

The Report also noted that fan numbers have been dropping since 2017/18 and while the stadium continues to host A-League and NRL matches, things are set to change at the Gosford venue.

However, the Council's interim Administrator Dick Persson deferred the strategy for three meetings to give staff time to speed up timelines for strategies outlined in the report.

Pearson, who was appointed as Administrator for the Council in October last year after it amassed debts of more than $550 million, told Sydney newspaper The Daily Telegraph “I am not happy with elements of (the strategy)", noting "part of the stadium strategy is the relationship with the Mariners. It requires an anchor tenant. I have met with the anchor tenant and there are things they are looking for us to expedite to try and make their business better and make people’s experiences better.”

He said deadlines for certain strategies were the end of 2023 or 2022 which was “too long away” and needed to be advanced.

The report advises "the stadium is under-utilised with a relatively limited event calendar both in quantity and diversity of events."

When the report was out for community consultation, issues raised included expensive food and drinks, lack of parking, a desire for more markets/concerts and the lack of activities/accommodation around the stadium. There was also a strong desire from the community for council to continue working with the Mariners and NRL.

The report stated there was a decline in average spectators at Mariners games between 2017/18 to 2018/19 from an average of 6,795 to 5,032 per match and while noting that while NRL attendance was strong, the Mariners brought in more fans annually.

The report states that council’s aim for the stadium is for it to be recognised as a 'Tier 2' venue which has a capacity between 20,000 to 40,000, corporate facilities and the ability to be a home ground for national sporting teams.

It also outlines plans to provide more opportunities for home-team, national and international sports, greater variety of entertainment and top class amenities along with food at reasonable prices.

While keen to continue its relationship with the Mariners, the Council has set a number of targets including having 40 major events a year, staying on top of maintenance and increasing fan stay and spend.

Image: The Central Coast Stadium's picturesque location on Brisbane Water.