Soccer club's own goal
I READ a lot of stupid things working as a sports reporter.
And occasionally it’s not something I’ve written.
The previous dumbest thing I've read in sport was CBS bothering to go on record to say Tiger Woods was not the culprit heard farting on the 18th hole of the Buick Open earlier this year.
True, it happened. Google it if you don’t believe me.
But Woods’ flatulent capers have been displaced by a new champion.
The new No.1 belongs to Gold Coast United, which has decided to cap its home crowds at 5000.
The decision will reportedly save the Gold Coast billionaire's owner, Clive Palmer, $100,000 a game because the club will not have to pay a State Government transport ticket levy of $ 3.15 per ticket.
The Gold Coast soccer-loving public reacted just as they should have to the move on Saturday for the club's match against the North Queensland Fury.
They raised their collective middle finger, didn’t turn up, and might stay away for the rest of the season so Gold Coast United joins the city’s overflowing graveyard of failed sport franchises.
Palmer’s decision defies logic. The mining magnate is a billionaire because he is a smart businessman but this situation is madness.
What if little Johnny WannabeaSocceroo comes to a game, dressed in his replica Gold Coast kit, but happens to be number 5001 through the gate.
What happens then? Does he get escorted from the ticket booth by a pair of surly security guards and given a Fox Sports brochure for the ride home?
But maybe the club has seen a trend and knows that is an unlikely scenario.
Despite star signings and having one of the most quote-worth coaches in Australian sport at the helm, Gold Coast United is averaging crowds of only 5600.
This is a team third on the ladder, remember? It has a squad featuring current Socceroos midfielder Jason Culina.
What must he be thinking? Culina transferred from one of the biggest club's in Europe, PSV Eindhoven, because he was “…keen to promote the national competition and raise the standard”.
Lofty goals and I wish him the best. I hope he does raise the standard but if Culina succeeds I’m sure he wants more than 5000 fans watching.
Before anyone sends me abusive emails accusing me of being antisoccer, football – whatever you want to call it – let me save you the click of your mouse. I love soccer. I grew up with it, played it most of my life before work commitments (and a lack of talent) got in the way.
I want to see a viable national competition but at the moment the A-League is struggling with poor crowds and diminishing interest.
With the Socceroos qualified for next year’s World Cup in South Africa, maybe the A-League will experience a surge of support next summer.
But if more clubs pull stunts like Gold Coast United then there might not be a competition to watch.
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