Council staff launch management bid for Central Coast Stadium

Council staff are expected to get the green light to bid for the management rights to Central Coast Stadium with the tender window also likely to be extended.

Central Coast Council staff responsible for managing the region’s only Tier 2 stadium believe they’ve done such a good job they should be able to throw their hat in the ring to bid for the management rights.

That is the upshot of an amendment to go before Administrator Rik Hart at tomorrow night’s council meeting, which recommends staff be given the chance to submit a tender.

The amendment to the procurement process for finding a management rights provider states there is $22,200 available in the 2021/2022 stadium budget to complete the in-house tender.

Central Coast Council is looking for someone to take over the management rights to the stadium. Picture: file

The amendment also requests the tender window be extended by an additional four weeks to allow staff to complete the tender submission.

Central Coast Council resumed the management rights to the stadium in 2014 and according to the Stadium Implementation Plan, which was adopted by council in March, it has been haemorrhaging between $841,000 to $1.4 million in operating losses each year.

The plan, which outlines a number of strategies to improve the stadium precinct, states the further ongoing capital expenditure requirements are estimated at more than $1 million a year.

The Stadium hosted 27 events in 2017/18 and 21 events in 2018/19, including 13 home A-League Mariners games and at least two other major events in each year.

Covid is preventing any chance of crowds returning to Central Coast Stadium any time soon but in the meantime council is looking for someone to take over the management rights.

Under its new implementation plan council wants to increase that to about 40 events a year and free itself of the majority of operating losses by off-loading the management rights.

“Over this time, the stadium’s experienced venue management team has built a reputation for dedication to working with and supporting hirers,” the report to tomorrow night’s council meeting states.

“The stadium’s venue management team has a proven track record of delivering events, while the stadium is a valuable community asset, delivering significant economic benefits to the region and acting as a focal point for community pride and sense of place within the Central Coast.

“In consultation with the United Services Union (USU) and the stadium’s venue

management team, council recognised the potential for the venue team to submit an in-house tender under the NSW Local Government (State) Award 2020 Clause 41 (iii) (f).”

The Mariner's proposal to activate the southern end of the stadium with cafes, licensed restaurants, shops and a catering school were shelved by council staff. Picture: supplied

Once the management rights have been granted, council will open expressions of interest to find a naming rights sponsor.

It comes almost a year to the day after Mariners boss Shaun Mielekamp revealed the A-League club had submitted an unsolicited proposal for management rights to the stadium.

However he said at the time the plans never made it before elected councillors because staff deemed the Mariners’ proposal not “unique enough”.

It is anticipated the Mariners will bid for the management rights this time round.

The Mariners were contacted for a response.