Child’s play is behind change
THE Suns have revealed plans to establish an early learning centre and childcare industry training college at their Carrara base in a bid to make it more commercially viable.
The findings come from the Stadiums Taskforce Report announced this week and follows a battle between the State Government with the Suns and NRL club Gold Coast Titans in regards to their concerns over the hiring costs of Metricon Stadium and Cbus Super Stadiums, run by Stadiums Queensland.
The Taskforce detailed in its final report that the Suns could save $830,000 a year if the following proposals were put in place: reduce their sinking fund payments; use the land for a child care centre; and increased stadium event attraction through reduced costs of police, security and transport.
The Taskforce backed Gold Coast’s commercial idea, recommending any supplementary sources of income for sporting franchises be supported and encouraged, suggesting it would elevate pressure to increase ticket prices.
“Like the majority of sporting clubs around the globe we need to identify additional revenue streams to stay competitive at the top level,” Suns general manager of media and marketing Stephen Wilson said.
“We looked at ways as to how we could use Metricon Stadium, other stadiums have gyms, cafes, medical practitioners based in their stadiums.
“We challenged ourselves to identify opportunities that provided social or community benefits, one of those was a childcare facility, which we also think can help us with our community programs and growing our fan base.”
Wilson said the club was working with a Gold Coastbased early learning childcare provider about the proposal.
“The opportunity is in its infancy – we are still in the process of gaining further advice and planning but we were pleased with the support we received through the Stadiums Taskforce Report,” Wilson said. The facility would be in the bottom corner of the Carrara land off Nerang-Broadbeach Road, connecting to Riverside Home Park.
The Taskforce identified public transport and parking as major issues for the Titans, including key recommendations:
The current commuter car park at Robina station be opened for pre-purchased game day parking available for hirers to position sponsors, members and limited general admission carparking.
Constructing a bridge over Mudgeeraba Creek to link Stadium Dve to Gooding Dve or Robina Parkway.
Access to additional carpark capacity in the stadium precinct at the Robina Town Centre, Robina Train Station, and Robina State High School.
Use field of Robina Raptors Junior League Club, near the hospital grounds, for limited parking for major events.
Five players charged with offences against women. Jarryd Hayne, Jack de Belin, Dylan Walker, Zane Musgrove and Liam Coleman will appear before the courts next year in a continuing publicity nightmare.
Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan provisionally deregistered. Flanagan was hit with a breach notice after an NRL integrity unit investigation found he had contacted club officials during the 12-month ban imposed for his role in the Sharks’ illegal supplements scandal in 2014. The club was also fined $800,000,
Wests Tigers rocked by a salary-cap scandal. Tigers chief executive Justin Pascoe faces deregistration after the NRL found evidence of an ambassador role offered to Robbie Farah in 2016 which was not disclosed. The club was fined $750,000 and had $639,000 (the value of the ambassador’s agreement with Farah) stripped from its 2019 salary cap.
Australian skipper Greg Inglis pleaded guilty to drink driving.
Canterbury fined $125,000 and four players were sanctioned over a “Mad Monday” saga where players were photographed nude.
The drawn-out BrisbaneSouths coaching saga that eventually saw Wayne Bennett trade places with Anthony Seibold was another black eye for the game.
Ivan Cleary also returned to Penrith, three years after being sacked by the Panthers, in a move that angered the Tigers faithful.