Member forum 2 Feb... and Gold/Platinum seating changes

[Ironbark]

He probably can't get through replying to 300 seperate emails too quick though

 

[Josho Howe]

Forum's just concluded. Here's a rundown of things. Others there will remember other stuff I'll inevitably forget.

Rich is pretty transparent with a lot of things which is nice.

Has said 8 offers have come in to buy the club, all to move the team away from the Coast. He said no, he's all in keeping us here.

Wenzel-Halls rolled his ankle at training today. Out for a couple weeks. His first damn session.

Rich is here for 2 and a half more years. Can't afford to take 2 million dollar losses.

NPL update from Shaun was all pretty known stuff now.

Women's team at final stages of coach hiring. September team to be assembled. First game is November 5 at the stadium.

Rich pissed off with APL and refereeing. Same here.

Membership not affected if they don't get l think it was 500. 500 people paying $750 a year. No chance.

Probably missed heaps but that was some of the main points.

Edit: The room was an absolute sauna. Drifters invest in some aircon would ya.

Also a pleasure to be the sole person under 30 in that room ha.

Edit again: Sorry for the long gaps between points, not sure what was goin on with my phone

 

[Meerkat]

Wenzel-Halls…. ???

and Ayongo gone?

 

[Big Dog]

Still looking at three players for this window with the hope of signing one or two

 

[gemkayem]

Forum's just concluded. Here's a rundown of things. Others there will remember other stuff I'll inevitably forget.





Rich is pretty transparent with a lot of things which is nice.







Has said 8 offers have come in to buy the club, all to move the team away from the Coast. He said no, he's all in keeping us here.





Wenzel-Halls rolled his ankle at training today. Out for a couple weeks. His first damn session.



Rich is here for 2 and a half more years. Can't afford to take 2 million dollar losses.





NPL update from Shaun was all pretty known stuff now.





Women's team at final stages of coach hiring. September team to be assembled. First game is November 5 at the stadium.





Rich pissed off with APL and refereeing. Same here.



Membership not affected if they don't get l think it was 500. 500 people paying $750 a year. No chance.



Probably missed heaps but that was some of the main points.





Edit: The room was an absolute sauna. Drifters invest in some aircon would ya.



Also a pleasure to be the sole person under 30 in that room ha.

Really glad to hear that Rich is set on keeping us here. Would be probably easier to sell and move but I’m glad he didn’t take that option.
Can you elaborate on that “membership not affected” point? I am not sure if it’s how I’m reading it but I don’t get it haha. Thanks for the summary!

 

[Ancient Mariner]

Membership not affected if they don't get l think it was 500.

Thanks Josh for your summary. Much appreciated.

Why the f*** didn't they communicate that, instead of letting some of us worry all week after their initial statement saying these seats would be resumed.

Follows up questions.
Is there a cut off date when they give up on the idea of stadium membership or is this going to be a sword of Damocles hanging over our heads indefinitely?
If they get 200 members signing up expecting seats next week where are they going to seat them?
What are the Club's plans if they get the 500 members and this goes ahead?

Were any of these questions addressed at the meeting?

Maybe they may answer the phone now and answer these questions.

 

[Josho Howe]

Really glad to hear that Rich is set on keeping us here. Would be probably easier to sell and move but I’m glad he didn’t take that option.

Can you elaborate on that “membership not affected” point? I am not sure if it’s how I’m reading it but I don’t get it haha. Thanks for the summary!

If you're in l think it was Bays 35-half of Bay 38, you could be moved from your seat. That won't happen this season and if the stadium membership itself doesn't hit its 500 seat target. The seats they're taking for their own membership for all events at the stadium. So our home games and like 1 pre-season and 1 NRL game a year.

No way they get 500 people paying $750 a year! for 13 Mariners games, 1 pre season and 1 NRL game.

Dan mentioned that members affected will get comparable seats in other bays close if they wish to do so.

 

[style_cafe]

This is out of left field.... anyone remember Marconi stadium....

I assume many on this forum would never have attended a match there...

The stadium was essentially scaffolding done very well.....

Here is the rub or crust .... if we assume the perimeter of a stadium is between 320 and 350 meters and you can fit 15 people in 10 meters.... that roughly 480 to 525 people per row.... 16 rows is around 8k.... arguable fit into a height of 5 to 6 meters....

We could build that stadium very cheaply at the COE [have to buy MC out] pressure gov swinging seats to fund...

Back to Marconi stadium this is a similar construction .... just over two minutes... the COE is perfect for this design...

I remember going to Marconi Oval in 1966 to watch dad play for Prospect Wanderers, who played out of Jardine Park at Casula (Liverpool).
In those days it was literally a cow paddock and part of getting the field preparations was for a group of old Italians to go around with a barrow and shovels to pick up the cow pats.
I have fond memories of Marconi Oval...

 

[gemkayem]

If you're in l think it was Bays 35-half of Bay 38, you could be moved from your seat. That won't happen this season and if the stadium membership itself doesn't hit its 500 seat target. The seats they're taking for their own membership for all events at the stadium. So our home games and like 1 pre-season and 1 NRL game a year.

No way they get 500 people paying $750 a year! for 13 Mariners games, 1 pre season and 1 NRL game.

Dan mentioned that members affected will get comparable seats in other bays close if they wish to do so.

Ah gotcha so they need 500 for the stadium membership. Yeah that’s not gonna happen. Not at that price!

 

[FFC Mariner]

Ah gotcha so they need 500 for the stadium membership. Yeah that’s not gonna happen. Not at that price!

Hey. Free carols

 

[marinermick]

I remember going to Marconi Oval in 1966 to watch dad play for Prospect Wanderers, who played out of Jardine Park at Casula (Liverpool).
In those days it was literally a cow paddock and part of getting the field preparations was for a group of old Italians to go around with a barrow and shovels to pick up the cow pats.
I have fond memories of Marconi Oval...

Me too. Played a National Youth League curtain raiser to Adelaide United and Marconi NSL game. Had one of my best ever games in goals, saving everything and getting pumped the crowd’s applause and compliments.

 

[Ozhammer]

Thanks Josh for your summary. Much appreciated.

Why the f*** didn't they communicate that, instead of letting some of us worry all week after their initial statement saying these seats would be resumed.

Follows up questions.
Is there a cut off date when they give up on the idea of stadium membership or is this going to be a sword of Damocles hanging over our heads indefinitely?
If they get 200 members signing up expecting seats next week where are they going to seat them?
What are the Club's plans if they get the 500 members and this goes ahead?

Were any of these questions addressed at the meeting?

Maybe they may answer the phone now and answer these questions.

Dan indicated that VL only walked back their position in the last 24 hours, partly due to the club sharing all the negative member feedback with them.

Seems like common sense has prevailed and Dan has worked hard to minimise any impacts on members. Basic gist is no seating changes for this season but alternative arrangements are available to move now and avoid relocation being an issue in future seasons if VL manage to create an offering that results in a big uptake in stadium memberships.

 

[Ancient Mariner]

Here is their offering at the moment.
If in the future Mariners do well and get a few finals games, plus some ACL games. $750 for a platinum seats does not seem uneconomical.
Platinum membership at present around $500 only covers the 13 home games.
If on top of those additional games the season expands in future to more than 13 and if the women's team plays at home, it will become extremely attractive to a keen supporter.
And you can bet they will not be slow in signing up other events for the stadium to increase their profits.
This organisation is not the asleep at the wheel local council.
The remainder of this year may be safe but I would not bet against them getting their numbers in the future.

EVENTS​

Industree Group Stadium Members have access to all Events at Industree Group Stadium, including all Sporting Events, Concerts and Community Events.​

In 2023, this will include:

• All Central Coast Mariners A-League Men home games in 2023 (includes both season 2022/23 and 2023/24 home games played throughout 2023).
• Central Coast Mariners A-League Men season 2022/23 home final/s (subject to qualification).
• Any additional Central Coast Mariners Men matches played in 2023.
• Central Coast Mariners new A-League Women team season 2023/24 home games played during 2023.
• NRL Pre-Season Challenge Double Header incl. Sharks v Knights and Rabbitohs v Manly (Fri 10-Feb).
• NRL Pre-Season Challenge Double Header incl. Eels v Knights and Roosters v Manly (Fri 17-Feb).
• Sydney Roosters v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs NRL Premiership Match (Round 14, Sun 4-Jun).
• All Community Events such as Open Air Cinema, Christmas Carols and Local Sporting Finals.

​

 

[Ancient Mariner]

Thanks to all who attended and answered all our queries and obviously, a big thank you to Dan (as usual) for dealing with a tough situation.

More comfortable now that decisions about future memberships can wait until after this season.

 

[Capn Gus Bloodbeard]

Here is their offering at the moment.
If in the future Mariners do well and get a few finals games, plus some ACL games. $750 for a platinum seats does not seem uneconomical.
Platinum membership at present around $500 only covers the 13 home games.
If on top of those additional games the season expands in future to more than 13 and if the women's team plays at home, it will become extremely attractive to a keen supporter.
And you can bet they will not be slow in signing up other events for the stadium to increase their profits.
This organisation is not the asleep at the wheel local council.
The remainder of this year may be safe but I would not bet against them getting their numbers in the future.

​

​

That seems like a positive thing for the coast - though I can't help but be a little concerned at the prospect of pulling memberships away from CCM.

Aside from that being club income, it's also an important metric.

Anyway, things sound positive from the forum.

 

[Corsair]

Sounds like the stadium membership is calendar year? So $1500 to watch a full season of home games? Will they let you buy a partial year for a pro rata fee? Where this might get legs is if it's a subscription model...$62.50 a month or $14.40 a week sounds a lot better than $750 a year. Like a gym membership...

 

[Big Dog]

It was also mentioned (I think) if the Stadium membership hits a certain figure the Mariners then receive a percentage of profit from the event takings? Eg, non A-League events also

 

[Ads]

I wouldn’t bet against them selling 500 if they have the right connections to the corporate world.

They wouldn’t be selling to individuals like you and me. They would be selling to companies to try and take them as part of employee packages and possibly as an alternative to a corporate box the companies buy a few seats and “lend” their seats to customers or potential customers they are trying to win over.

 

[Ancient Mariner]

Sounds like the stadium membership is calendar year? So $1500 to watch a full season of home games? Will they let you buy a partial year for a pro rata fee? Where this might get legs is if it's a subscription model...$62.50 a month or $14.40 a week sounds a lot better than $750 a year. Like a gym membership...

Here is their current membership fee structure.

Choose how you'd like to pay for your Membership/s:
Full Up-Front Payment ($750 per Membership)
Monthly Instalments of $50 per Membership / per month (Jan 2023 to Dec 2023) + $200 Up-Front Joining Fee per Membership

Probably too expensive at the moment but with additional games in future, (eg ACL, A league finals, expanded a-league, women' league,) it may be an attractive option for any current committed Mariner platinum member.
I doubt it would suit me living in Sydney but it may be worth considering for others especially if the Club can get a benefit.

 

[Ancient Mariner]

Thinking some more about it. I have been seeing the the stadium management as a problem, making the Club's position more difficult.
Hopefully the two organisations can develop a really cooperative working arrangement to the benefit of both. It should not take too much imagination for the Club and Stadium Management to come up with a special joint membership package for the filthy rich fan, along with special mates rates for stadium hire for other Mariners' activities in future, maybe women' or NPL games.

Opportunities rather than problems.

Maybe.