From east to west: Mariners brand stretched far and wide in ‘09

As the fans file into Bluetongue Stadium for the final time in 2009 this New Years Eve, they, like the club, will be reflecting on another year of triumph and progress for the Central Coast Mariners.

2009 was a landmark year in the history of the Coast’s only truly national professional sports team, which saw the club expand its brand into the lucrative Asian market through the Asian Champions League, and into a new local market, by taking two Hyundai A-League fixtures to the untapped football market of Canberra.

On the pitch, the Club qualified for its third Hyundai A-League finals series in four seasons and made its mark in the Asian Champions League, highlighted by drawing with the eventual champions of the tournament – Korean heavyweights, Pohang Steelers.

The Asian campaign introduced a new tourist market to the Central Coast, as we welcomed visitors from Japan, Korea and China to the region, while expansion of clubs on the Gold Coast, and in Far North Queensland have widened the region’s reputation closer to home.

Our relationship with English Championship club, Sheffield United, has increased brand awareness not only in the industrial north of England, but also in areas the Sheffield United group of clubs operate, including Ferencvaros in Hungary, Brazilian club Sao Paulo, and Chinese based side Chengdu Blades.

Crowd figures have again been consistent at Bluetongue Stadium, with averages above the 9,000 mark through the early part of the new campaign, and with six home matches in a period of nine weeks, the national spotlight will certainly be on the Central Coast throughout the busy holiday period, as television ratings continue to grow.

The Club’s relationship with major sponsor, Regional Development Australia Central Coast, as well as locally operated businesses such as Fortunity, Mars Food Australia and Community First Credit Union, has continued to grow as the Mariners builds itself as one of the premier brands in the region.

The Mariners have also supported projects such as the Gosford Business Improvement District initiative, the Central Coast Academy of Sport, and various community initiatives in conjunction with Gosford and Wyong Councils, and other local charities, community organisations and businesses.

The Club currently directly and indirectly employs over 400 Central Coast residents and with the impending arrival of the Mariners’ Centre of Excellence at Tuggerah, more jobs will be created and more opportunities for economic growth in the region will present themselves, with the centre to attract elite athletes from around the world for training camps and educational programs.

The Centre of Excellence will provide a perfect base for the Mariners to improve on the pitch, in the hope of securing an elusive Hyundai A-League championship.
The Mariners remain committed to, and passionate about our region, and look forward to growing with the Central Coast in 2010.

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