When United broke the news of the return of the infamous crowd cap, anger rushed through me for the second time since I have started supporting this club. Yet again, Clive Palmer has managed to infuriate the Gold Coast faithful, to the extent of some fans handing back their memberships and wanting a refund.
I can't blame the people who are giving their memberships back. For us who stand and sing in Bay 30, otherwise known as the Beach, we want what we paid for. And we don't pay for a seat in the corner, where we are forced to crane our heads to catch the action at the other end of the field.
Clive Palmer is first and foremost a business man. He wants to make money, which he has done numerous times in the past with other projects. However, to cap the crowds at Skilled Park to 5000 just wont work in attracting to fans to the club.
How will a crowd cap, and the animosity it will evoke from the crowd at the game, entice newcomers to the club?
This event has ruined the start of the season at United. Even though we started with a disappointing 0-0 draw with Brisbane, the 3-3 thriller at Wellington showed some potential for the club. To score three goals, away from home at a stadium that is a fortress for the Kiwi team, and playing in terrible conditions, shows the passion and work rate of the players we have at the club.
To cap the crowd at one of the games that attracted one of our biggest crowds last year does not make sense. Capping a match against Adeleide, for example, would make more sense as it does not attract the numbers that the prestigious *shudder* clubs like Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC do.
Clive Palmer does not understand football, or marketing football for that matter. If Mr Palmer pumped some $$$ into marketing the club as a whole, and was able to attract 10k+ to every match, then charging the amount he does for tickets now would make sense. Capping the crowd and still charging high prices will not make people want to attend.
If by some miracle, we manage to get 5,000+ to the match on Sunday, maybe Mr Palmer will realise that with the right attitude and marketing, there are big bucks to be made here on the Coast.
That's not the only negative for United recently; Smeltz has decided that he will be moving to Turkey, if the club targeting him don't sign their main target. Of course, this is heartbreak for United. The club's top scorer from last year is leaving. However, we all remember what happened when he moved to China, and Turkey can't be much better, can it?
But what happens, happens. United can only hope that the Turkish club secure their main target, so Smeltz will still be at United for the time being. United can only hope that the city gets behind the team, for the future of the club.
August 29, 2010. Be there when a city stands United. Please?
