Centre shoots for free entry

By Melissa Meehan
BASKETBALL spectators at Cardinia LiFE may soon be able to watch games at the centre for free.
Instead of the present $2 entry fee, Cardinia LiFE committee members are investigating the impact of increasing team sheet fees in exchange for free spectator entry.
This would mean the overall cost for players could rise by up to 50 per cent.
Cardinia Shire councillor and committee delegate Collin Ross said he supported the proposed changes wholeheartedly.
“I believe it would encourage more families to stay and watch their kids play sport rather than the ‘drop-and-run’ mentality that is currently happening,” he said.
“But it’s not hard to see why – if mum and her three children want to watch it will cost them $8.
“If we were able to let them in for free I think we would see a lot more families there supporting their children.”
Cr Ross said while he had not been given exact figures he did not believe the increase in team sheet fees would be extreme, something he said was important.
“I would imagine the increase would be 50 per cent or lower,” he said.
“And the more kids in the team, the cheaper it would be per player.”
One problem for centre staff was trying to catch everyone as they made their way to watch the games.
“We have girls behind the desk trying to organise team sheets and trying to make sure they get everyone’s $2,” he said.
“They can’t stop everyone.”
While positive about the proposal Cr Ross recognised that there could be some problems with not charging spectators for entry to the centre.
“The only problem I can foresee is difficulty in stopping spectators from going into other areas of the centre, like the swimming pool, without paying to use them,” he said.
“Something similar to a wristband or token system would need to be arranged to stop that.”
Cr Ross said the proposal to increase team sheets could also flow on to netball, floorball and other sports played at the complex, which would allow for a more successful set up for the venue and inturn make more money for the council.