With news that the NRL has had to step in to run the struggling Gold Coast Titans, it looks as though only intervention from Dave Smith and co. will keep the Titans from joining the Chargers and Seagulls on the scrap heap.
It would be a shame, and surely a deadly blow to the NRL’s hopes of taking on the AFL on the Gold Coast if the Titans were to fall away.
The question has to be asked, why do clubs on the Gold Coast keep failing? It is not just the NRL either. The NBL has tried, unsuccessfully, to take on the Gold Coast market, while the A-League also failed to make inroads with Gold Coast United.
Why is it that sporting sides cannot survive in such an ideal location? Plenty of people, great weather, close to MAJOR attractions. The Titans trip is arguably the best away trip for interstate travellers as it offers such a variety of activities and party hot spots before and after the game.
The Gold Coast is amongst the nation’s top tourist attractions and draws thousands of people in every day. Obviously this means just as many are headed out as they continue their travels or head home.
Most of the holiday strip along Surfers Paradise etc. is full of hotels, restaurants and other tourist driven establishments meaning that although there are plenty of potential NRL patrons, the lure of the beach etc. acts as competition for the Titans.
Someone mentioned earlier that if tourist locations were ideal for hosting sporting sides that Las Vegas would have sides in every competition available to them.
In terms of geography, the Gold Coast is not all that far away from Brisbane. The majority of my friends who know live on the Gold Coast are Brisbane fans based on the fact they have been supporting league for a lot longer than the Titans existence and had adopted the Broncos years back.
With the Gulls and Chargers folding, it’s not unlikely that league fans on the coast, looking for a side, would have committed to other options and are not willing to jump ship to the Titans.
Many on social media have mentioned that CBUS Stadium is incredibly difficult to access. Some mentioned that parking was well outside of ‘walking distance’ while others have mentioned it is away from populated areas.
There are shuttle buses provided and the train station is 500 or so metres away, so it’s similar to the likes of Moore Park in Sydney in terms of distance from major transport, but the fact it is ‘in the middle of nowhere’ makes it difficult.
Those with kids can attest how difficult public transport or long distance walks can be when crowded, so I can definitely understand this.
Supposedly mid-2014 plans were put in place to install a 700 or so space car park closer to the venue, although I haven’t heard anything more of this.
This of course would not apply to other franchises other than the A League side, but it certainly seems to be a big factor now.
The above are just three quick reasons why sporting teams may have failed in the past, or why the Titans are falling behind now.
For the record, I feel for Titans fans, and hope they can turn it around, but the only way they can achieve this is by packing CBUS Stadium.
I’d love to hear what other people see if the reason for the failure of teams to attract huge, regular, crowds to games.
Someone suggested earlier that Gold Coast clubs have always been seen as the Broncos little brother so to speak. While this may be somewhat true, I would have thought the rivalry would drive more fans to attend games.
The fact no Gold Coast side has put together any level of sustained success may also come into it, as it does with any side, but even when the Titans were flying high, they weren’t selling out.
Should Cherry Evans end up on the Gold Coast, I believe it will be a huge injection for the club and the NRL. Gary Ablett has almost single handedly given the Suns credibility since his move from Geelong.
Could DCE, combined with fans willing to show their support in the face of adversity, be the kick start the Titans need?