Dolphins News - July 2014

✃
Stadium benefits flow to community
OUR ongoing push for the boutique stadium at Dolphin Oval has thrown up
several questions about what benefits result from such a community
investment.
The situation arose after we knocked back
several opportunities to host big games at
Dolphin Oval over the past four years.
We were offered the State of Origin under
20s match, however our field lighting was
nowhere near the standard for television
coverage via Fox Sports.
The 2013 Queensland Cup grand final went
to Ipswich as we were constructing Dolphins
Central at the time. The NRL trial this year
caught us by surprise, with a capacity crowd
watching the Broncos and Cowboys start their
respective seasons.
Our investigation led us to Mudgee and
Coffs Harbour in New South Wales. Take
Mudgee for example.
“Country and suburban grounds traditionally
are best measured by the number of cartons
sold on Sunday afternoon,” said Mayor Des
Kennedy.
“But in Mudgee, it’s different now. Out
here, games of footy can make us millions.
Knowing that only last year this battling little
league town opened a footy complex, costing
$10 million to complete, is now the premier
sporting ground in western New South Wales.
“And for proof, consider that in the 18
months since the ribbon was cut, Mudgee has
hosted a City-Country game, an NRL match,
even state titles for soccer, rugby union and
touch.”
“And according to extensive research, every
visitor to those events brings $381,” said Julie
Robertson, economic development officer at
Mudgee Council.
“You look at this year’s NRL game between
Parramatta and the Gold Coast. Half the 10,000
FREE
62 POINT
SAFETY
CHECK OVER
New Car
Servicing
Stuart Kaiser
(owner)
crowd were visitors to the region. That means
about $1.9 million was invested into Mudgee.
“And that’s just one of the events people
know about too. We host junior soccer titles
here where 20 teams, each with squads of
about 20 players, stay in town for four days.
Throw in their parents, family, friends and so
on, the injection into the local community is
incredible.”
At this point it should be noted Mudgee’s
new complex, $5 million of which was paid for
by the former Rudd Labor government, is not
on the same site as Mudgee’s old league
ground.
“And there is hardly a weekend where the
• Safety Certificates
• L.P. Gas Certificates
• Safety Checks
• LPG Installations & Services
• Log Book Factory Services
• Pensioner discounts
Contact us today for any obligation free quote or to make a booking
63 Snook St., Clontarf
info@hycraftautomotive.com.au
venue isn’t booked,” Ms Robertson said. “In
May, we’ve got the NSW Country
Championships for rugby, then in April a
Trans-Tasman touch football event.
“Our next step is to extend the number of
fields we have, which is currently about a
dozen, to 20 so we can host the biggest sports
carnivals too.”
So professionally is the Mudgee complex
run, the council has been asked by other towns
in western New South Wales to explain exactly
how it has done it.
“We made a decision that was in the best
interests of Mudgee,” Mayor Kennedy said.
“And while the Government funded us well,
we still had to find $5 million, which some
locals think should go towards better roads,
more library books and so on.
“But this ground, it has put Mudgee on the
map as a major sports venue. We still have to
work hard to drive it.
“You can’t just build something and expect
people to turn up. But this is a ground that, for
the next 50 years, is going to make money for
this town.”
Wayne Miller, a Coffs Harbour resident
before moving to Queensland in the early
1990s, contacted his old council and posed
several questions to the council’s events and
local sports coordinator. Here is what they had
to say.
What was the average spend per person,
per day while in town? What was the total
value per visitor?
“The average spend per overnight visitor per
day is $156 as per destination NSW.”
What is the average length of stay per
sporting event?
“This varies depending on the length of each
event. We find that players and their families
will stay one extra night than the length of the
event as they prefer to arrive the night prior to
their event. Our exact average stays per event
in 2012-2013 financial year is 0.3 nights per
person. However for a multiday event the
Our Pledge to you
We strive for excellence in the service we provide
At a time of loss when compassion and
attention to detail are critical, our pledge to
you and your family, is to provide you with
our very best personal care and attention to
even the smallest of details, ensuring a
fitting farewell for your loved one.
✃
Owners: Margaret David & Livett Kristina Dart and and Yvonne Deryl & Bowles Bruce Jarvie
Proudly Locally Owned
17 Anzac Ave, Redcliffe
Ph: 3284 7333 (At All Times)
Freecall 1800 672 331
average stay is roughly three nights.”
Do event participants and their families
return for a holiday or short visit?
“Our visitor information centre might be
able to help you with this.”
We contacted the visitor information centre
and they were unable to put an exact figure on
this. However they did say that a large
percentage of participants and supporters
stated that they would love to return in the
future.
How many carnivals are held at the
stadium each year?
“ C.ex Coffs Harbour International Stadium
is a multi-purpose outdoor stadium which
caters for a wide range of sporting and
entertainment events. Based on our 2013-2014
financial year calendar, to date we have hosted
18 athletics carnivals, 12 rugby league events,
eight rugby union events, 10 soccer events and
eight entertainment-based events.
“While the National Touch League always
produces outstanding action, this year’s titles
will have added intensity when the competition
begins at C.ex Coffs International Stadium.
Not only are national championships up for
grabs, but many Australian players will be
looking beyond their team’s conquests to
impress the Touch Football Australia High
Performance Program, as Coffs Harbour is set
to host the FIT Touch World Cup in 12 months.
About 3000 players, officials, families and
fans are expected to descend on Coffs Harbour,
and when the first game taps off at 8am, it will
be the first of 473 played at the stadium over
four days of national competition. “
At the end of the week the council does the
maths with 3000 people spending $156 per day
over four days, injecting $1.872 million into
the local economy.
It is a no brainer if you ask me. More stadium
facts next month.
Tony Murphy
CEO Dolphins Group
YES! I would like FREE Personal Information Guide
YES! I would like Pre-Paid Funeral Information
– AT NO OBLIGATION!
Name:..................................................................................
Address:..............................................................................
....................................................Phone:.............................
Cut and send this coupon to:
Traditional Funerals
17 Anzac Avenue, Redcliffe 4020
BURPENGARY • CABOOLTURE • REDCLIFFE • BRIBIE ISLAND
4 — DOLPHINS NEWS, JULY 2014 BECOME WHO VOTED A MEMBER FOR TODAY LESS FROM FREEDOM? JUST $11! Please mention the Dolphins News when responding to the advertisements