Mariners look to purchase Central Coast Stadium

While Central Coast Mariners will be playing two of their 2016/17 A-League season home fixtures in Canberra, the club reportedly has plans to buy its home venue - the Central Coast Stadium in Gosford.

The Central Coast Gosford Express Advocate recently reported that the Mariners are eager to have the same control over the home ground as they do at their Centre of Excellence in Tuggerah and to become the first A-League team to own the stadium that it calls home.

Mariners Executive Vice-Chairman Peter Storrie believes that owning the ground would ensure the club’s financial stability.

Storrie told the Express Advocate “one of the most important things (for the club) is discussing the stadium situation with Central Coast Council, which is exciting for both the Central Coast Mariners and the local council.”

Formerly owned by the Gosford City Council, recently merged into the Central Coast Council, the Stadium has lacked a naming rights sponsor since the Council took over management of the venue in 2014.

Central Coast Council Chief Executive Rob Noble believes the venue is under-utilised in its current state, telling the Express Advocate “in the past the stadium has not maximised its opportunities.

“We need to think about what maximum value we can deliver for the community and compare and contrast that with whatever offer might be received.”

If the Mariners’ bid is successful the club would be able to introduce a range of commercial opportunities at the venue including new merchandise, retail, function, hospitality and food and beverage outlets.

Potentially they would also look to maximise commercial activities at the venue’s waterfront location that have been not been advanced in recent years.

These include a potential hotel development overlooking the ground.

While it doesn’t currently own its ground, the Mariners relocation of two 2016/17 A-League season home fixtures to Canberra’s GIO Stadium has attracted on-going criticism from fans.

While just 5,497 turned up to the GIO Stadium to watch their recent match against Wellington Phoenix, the club is committed to spreading the Mariners' brand while bolstering the club's future sustainability.

Images: Central Coast Stadium (top, courtesy of the Mariners) and Mariners players huddle before their recent game v Western Sydney Wanderers (below, courtesy of Damian Briggs Photography).

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