A GROUP aiming to revive a Gold Coast A-League football team plan to get around “exorbitant” Robina stadium fees by building their own 5000-seat arena.

Not-for-profit Sports Gold Coast want to succeed where mining magnate Clive Palmer failed by creating a sustainable structure for elite football in the city with a local A-League side as the end goal, the Bulletin revealed this week.

The city’s previous A-League side, Gold Coast United, was financially backed by Mr Palmer until it folded in 2012 when the Football Federation Australia cancelled its licence.

Sports Gold Coast has invested in a $50,000 strategic plan mapping a pathway to the A-League which lists existing stadium costs and location as a “weakness”.

“The stadium is expensive to hire,” the plan notes. “This places financial strain on hirers who are heavily reliant on match-day revenues.

media_camera Sports Gold Coast CEO Brett Richardson.

“Cost was identified as a significant factor in the demise of Gold Coast United.” The A-League team even blocked off sections of the stadium to fans to limit cost.

The Sports Gold Coast plan said Stadium Queensland could be approached to gauge State Government appetite for providing “reasonable hire terms” for its 27,400-seat venue.

But Sports Gold Coast CEO Brett Richardson said another option was combining city, state, business and football sector backing to build a new 5000-seat stadium.

Mr Richardson said the city desperately needed a mini-stadium to fill a gap under major venues Cbus Super Stadium at Robina and Metricon at Carrara.

“Why not? It means you are not opening a massive stadium. Gold Coast United struggled to fill the massive stadium when they had 3000-5000 spectators.

media_camera CBUS Super Stadium, Robina. Picture: JERAD WILLIAMS

“This (smaller) facility would allow for that sustainability and you could build it up.”

Mr Richardson said it would provide an option not just for A-League and second tier National Premier League fixtures but also a venue for visiting international teams.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate has thrown his support behind Sports Gold Coast’s elite football plans — and taken aim at Cbus Stadium.

“The issue of exorbitant stadium hire fees associated with Cbus Stadium was a large reason why soccer failed in our city last time,” Cr Tate said.

“That has to be resolved, as does the costly traffic management fees which accompanied each home game. Only then will elite level soccer be successful and hold its own.’’

media_camera Metricon stadium.

Sports Gold Coast claims its plan has silent backers’ initial pledges of $500,000.

A Stadiums Queensland spokesman said any dialogue with the Mayor and council around what support they could provide to reduce transport and operational costs on hirers was welcome.

“Should the A-League proposal get off the ground we’d certainly be interested in talking to them about using the venue.

“The franchise pays the costs of hosting their event and retains the majority of revenues from game day. If you can maintain solid and consistent attendances you will get a good return.”