Families paying price of high stadium costs
YOUNG families are the ones paying the price for exorbitant stadium fees, according to peak sporting body Sports Gold Coast.
Geoff Smith, chairman of the unaligned sporting business group, said State Sports Minister Mick de Brenni’s claims that clubs like the Titans and Suns should win more matches to boost attendances and counter stadium fees are “totally unfounded” and stadium pricing needs a “long-term vision”.
“Winning games doesn’t mean revenue goes up. Brisbane Lions won three premierships in a row and that didn’t help with the bottom line,” Mr Smith said.
“Any business venture can’t be in a vacuum. You need to cater to your market and in the case of Queensland Stadiums it is ultimately families, not sports clubs, that buy the end product.
“You need to ensure they can afford to support you.’’
Mr de Brenni’s comments, that the financial woes of the Gold Coast NRL and AFL franchises were the result of poor onfield performances rather than fees set by Stadiums Queensland, angered the clubs.
The Titans said they paid about $500,000 a year more in government fees than NSW clubs, and Suns chairman Tony cochrane called the minister’s criticism “harmful and disrespectful’’.
Mr Smith said yesterday stadiums had to be seen as facilities that would attract revenue but not generate it.
“Lower ticket prices means more families coming to watch, more hotel rooms, more people at the restaurants, otherwise it is a vicious cycle,’’ he said.
“High stadium prices do not benefit anyone if they mean tickets are unaffordable.’’
Opposition sports spokesman John-Paul Langbroek accused Mr de Brenni of “laughing in the face” of Gold Coast teams, and called on the Premier to step in and sort out the Stadiums Queensland dispute.
“It is not a new issue and Minister Mick de Brenni is basically laughing in their faces,” the Member for Surfers Paradise said.
“This is a really important issue because the Suns and the Titans are an important part of our community. We have seen the programs and contributions they make.
“It is of no help when the minister says the reason they are having problems with their rent is because they are not performing well enough on the field. Is the Labor minister seriously suggesting they are only worth supporting if they are winning?
“It is obvious that the Suns and the Titans have a deal that is much worse than other states, so it is time for Queensland to step up and sort this out and if it takes Annastacia Palaszczuk to do it, then that’s what needs to be done,” he said.
Despite the outraged response from the Gold Coast community, Mr de Brenni did not withdraw his comments.
“There’s no question that we love sport in Queensland, and we want to see more of it everywhere,” he said. “That’s why I will continue to work with all codes to ensure deals are struck which are fair, and which support the growth of sport in Queensland.’’