Mariners to boost Canberra bid

Lyall Gorman, Mariners Chairman said,

“It also gives the A-League for Canberra bid supporters the perfect chance to get behind the game, and further strengthen our support of a truly national competition, with the imminent announcement of the Hyundai A-League’s successful 12th franchise.

Mariners make Capital gains in Hyundai A-League 5

The Central Coast Mariners will spread their wings to Canberra this Hyundai A-League 2009/10 season following today’s confirmation that Canberra Stadium will host the yellow and navy in Rounds 5 and 13 of the club’s fast approaching fifth Hyundai A-League campaign.

The Mariners currently foster close links with football in Canberra through an association with Capital Football. Their current pre-season camp is the third such event in as many seasons, in a bid to expand the Mariners’ Canberran fan base and interact with many of the ACT’s 17,000-strong base of registered footballers.

On Friday 4 September, these links will grow even closer when Canberra Stadium hosts its historic first ever Hyundai A-League fixture – the Mariners’ Round 5 clash against the Perth Glory.

Then, on Saturday 31 October, the Central Coast will return to the nations capital, for a round 13 Halloween clash against Adelaide United.

And Mariners members are set to benefit too, with every Mariners member entitled to a free, reserved seating ticket to either match.

Complimentary tickets for Mariners Members for the round 5 encounter with Perth Glory on Friday 4 September will be available from Monday 13 July, at either the Ticketek outlet at Bluetongue Stadium, or by visiting the Mariners office in Tuggerah during business hours.

Details of the availability of complimentary tickets for the round 13 clash against Adelaide will be made closer to the event.

While Mariners members will pick up free tickets, members of the Canberra Football Family can enjoy a priority booking period on tickets to both matches, which runs until Wednesday 15 July.

Canberra Football Family members will be given a special code to use when booking.

Recently, 20,032 spectators were in attendance at Canberra Stadium for Australia’s AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Kuwait – a match that featured Mariners striker Matt Simon – and it is hoped that similarly impressive numbers will return to Canberra’s outstanding multi-purpose facility when the Mariners bring their Hyundai A-League road show to their home away from home in September and October.

These two fixtures will provide the city’s football lovers a chance to vote with their feet, their attendance also sure to be seen as a show of support for Canberra’s bid for entry into an expanded Hyundai A-League competition.

"We must firstly recognise the vision and foresight of Football Federation Australia, the ACT Government and Capital Football, for seizing this unique opportunity to host these two Hyundai A-League fixtures," said Mariners Executive Chairman Lyall Gorman.

“It also gives the A-League for Canberra bid supporters the perfect chance to get behind the game, and further strengthen our support of a truly national competition, with the imminent announcement of the Hyundai A-League’s successful 12th franchise.

"This very unique situation will see the Central Coast region showcased to the nation’s capital like never before, and the very fact that such an invitation exists in the first place is further vindication of what impact our club has made on the Australian sporting landscape in such a short period of time."

Beyond their matches in Canberra, the Mariners will host fixtures at their iconic Bluetongue Stadium home on eleven occasions throughout the season – starting with a pair of blockbuster derby clashes against the Newcastle Jets and Sydney FC and continuing throughout a seven-month regular season campaign.

As with previous seasons, the Mariners’ have a high concentration of home fixtures throughout the December and January period of the Hyundai A-League 2009/10 season, including the return of the traditional New Year’s Eve fixture, which this year will welcome the visit of the Wellington Phoenix.

“With eleven home matches being played at Bluetongue Stadium in season five, we have been able to maintain membership packages at the same number of home matches as last season, and most importantly, we have held last season’s prices.

“Another advantage, is that Bluetongue Stadium will enjoy a good break between home games through September and October, thus ensuring an optimum period of turf rectification, heading into a busy home game schedule over summer,” Gorman said.

Tickets for these matches range from $7 to $35, with a two match pass on offer, giving fans wishing to attend both games platinum reserved seating tickets for $54, or gold reserve for $15 for kids, $40 for adults, and family passes for just $95.