Australia NewsGold Coast Face Record Low Over Broken Promises |
EXCLUSIVE:Gold Coast United are facing the lowest crowd in A-League history this weekend as angry fans boycott the game over the new ticketing arrangements and broken club promises.
Season ticket members of the club were sold their passes with guaranteed seats and guaranteed free transport to and from every home game.
The official club website still proudly boasts under Membership Benefits: "Free transport to each home game. Same seat at each home game."
The ticketing page on the website also still promises: "Gold Coast United home games at Skilled Park are great entertainment, great value, and a sporting experience like no other.
"Pre-purchased tickets entitle you to free public transport to and from the game with Translink."
But this week's decision to close three quarters of the stadium has meant all fans will be moved out of the home end behind the goals to sit in the west grandstand.
And the latest seat allocations being sent out have confused members with The Beach supporters club now being squeezed into the corners, while regular family members have also been put in the middle of the standing, singing supporters.
More importantly though, it means public transport is no longer included in the ticket price, no extra trains or buses will run to the stadium - and there's no parking at the stadium.
For fans in Brisbane, the extra cost could be substantial for a family.
The ticketing page on the website also still insists kids tickes are just $5 - cut just a couple of weeks ago - but the actual price is now $15 for children, with all adult tickets now $30.
The decision to cap the crowd was actually taken two weeks ago but the details were only revealed on Tuesday.
Gold Coast United CEO Clive Mensink yesterday told au.fourfourtwo.com the delay had been caused by ensuring everything was in place and correct by the time the announcement was made.
However within 24 hours of the decision being made public, adult prices were cut from $42 to $30 while kids prices increased from $5 to $15.
The public transport errors on the website are still live 48 hours after the announcement, while a small news story on the website confirms the new ticket pricing and travel arrangements.
Mensink yesterday told au.fourfourtwo.com the club had ruled out any refunds to existing members for withdrawing the promised free public transport, but said no-one had so far asked for their money back.
The current lowest crowd in A-League history was the 1,632 who turned out to see New Zealand Knights take on Central Coast Mariners on September 28, 2006 in Auckland.
Gold Coast have so far averaged 5651 in their five home games this season, but hit a record low of 4209 against Wellington Phoenix, although the following home game against Perth Glory saw a small recovery up to 4509.
The club have now infamously restricted the crowd to a maximum 5,000 for this weekend's game against intrastate rival North Queensland Fury and comes after the glamour club suffered the biggest regular season defeat in A-League history with a 6-0 spanking by Wellington Phoenix last weekend.
Mensink said yesterday that he hoped the game will be a sell-out - but the club's supporters' group warned there was little chance of that happening when walk-up fans will be turned away if they are the 5001st fan.
"Why would people want to go to all the trouble of getting to the game to risk not being let in?" one fan warned on the club's supporters' forum.
Many fans are planning to boycott the game in protest at the board's running of the club, while others plan to display banners criticising the decision - although these will be hidden from TV cameras by the new seating plan.
"They have alienated the whole community," said another fan.
"Last week Clive Mensink was at a loss to explain poor crowds, now he uses the global recession as an excuse. So if they knew people were struggling financially, why set ticket prices so high from the start?
"I will not go to another game unless the board changes its attitude and ticket prices."
Another said: "As far as I'm concerned I already paid for my public transport when I bought my family membership that cost me over $900.
"I'm going to pretend I never read Doak's email and just get on the train as usual. I'd be happy to boycott the game, but it would really disappoint the kids who don't even notice all the controversy & low attendance."
Emotions have been running high on the Gold Coast Supporters fan forums since the new seats were allocated.
"I just got my seat allocation in the mail. Aisle 1, Row 11, Seats 37 & 38. WTF," said one fan. "I couldn't think of a worse seat in the stadium...GCU have royally pissed me off."
Another added: "My wife and I ended up in the Beach. No offence to the beach but I am not up to standing for 9 minutes let alone 90."
Yet another said: "We have deadset been shafted. I've been moved from the best seats in the house behind the goal to the ***ing corner???"
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