Negotiations are underway for the management of Central Coast Stadium to be handed over to VenuesLive in what Council CEO David Farmer said could be the kickstart needed for the revitalisation of the Gosford waterfront precinct.
Council will continue to own the stadium but its management will be in the hands of the company which manages such venues as Accor stadium, purpose-built for the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and Optus Stadium in Western Australia.
VenuesLive has indicated it is in negotiations with the Central Coast Mariners to remain anchor tenant.
Council issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the management of the stadium on July 2, 2021, as an action under the Central Coast Stadium Strategy adopted on March 23.
Three responses were received, one of which was submitted by the existing Central Coast Council Stadium management team, with which Council is consulting on the impacts of future management.
The other unsuccessful tenderer and key stakeholders have been notified.
Council Administrator Rik Hart said the move was another step toward ensuring the stadium reached its potential for the region.
“Central Coast Stadium is an outstanding facility located in an exceptional spot – directly adjacent to the beautiful Brisbane Water and (and) a short walk (from) the Gosford CBD,” Hart said.
“This is a great outcome for the community as it brings Australia’s largest private stadium operator to the Central Coast – and the benefit of their vast industry network.
“The community should expect to see a gradual increase in event offerings in both quantity and diversity.”
VenuesLive is also the exclusive caterer for other large venues such as McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle, Win Stadium in Wollongong and Sydney Motorsport Park at Eastern Creek.
Council expects to be ready for transition of management to occur for the new financial year.
CEO David Farmer said a number of things needed to be considered in the revitalisation of the waterfront, with the change in management at the stadium likely to drive future plans.
“We’re very happy an organisation like VenuesLive wants to partner with us,” he said.
“The stadium isn’t just a facility for sporting events, although that will always be the major use.
“There is the potential for all sorts of events such as concerts to provide more richness to community life.”
Farmer said Council was keen to explore options to increase public usage of the larger waterfront precinct.
“We want to look at maximising the recreational and economic benefit of that (waterfront) space,” he said.
“This is not an easy project and has the potential to be very expensive, with one of the major problems being a major road through the middle (of the precinct).
“Accessibility is one of the challenges – but (a waterfront) revitalistion is one of the major drivers in creating a new and vibrant Gosford.”
Farmer said he had overseen several waterfront revitalisations in other council areas which had driven desirability to live and work nearby.
Terry Collins
This is another project that no community input was requested! Selling the Stadium would be a better option. Council would still be required to provide maintenance for the facility probably around $1 million ratepayers dollars per year? Does anyone know how much the Stadium makes per year nett not gross? The management team would have been the cheapest component how much is the Council/ratepayers making from this deal? The CEO is talking about removing the road because its separating the park from the waterfront how much is that going to cost? The Council say they have a plan has anyone seen it? I think that would be a resounding NO!
There are too many unanswered questions from the dynamic duo they seem hell bent on selling Central Coast Council assets under a cloud of secrecy why? They reduce the number of Council meetings why? To reduce their workload? They are not reducing their paypackets.
Its time a Council election was put on the agenda. So we have a date we can work towards. The Councillors may have been dysfunctional but at least they were elected representatives of the ratepayers! Hindsight gives everyone better vision. There are a lot of issues the Councillors were not made aware of and certainly not the financial situation. But the State government did wave lots of potential money around such as the money from the SnowyHydro scheme and money from the council mergers unspent millions until it vanished when Gladys wiped the board and sreaded the documents and blithely said it was Pork barrelling money so that’s OK?