Kissing Newlands goodbye
Western Province rugby must move to Cape Town Stadium in Green Point.
While the WPRFU has insisted they will be staying at Newlands post-2010, Saturday’s fixture between Boland and the Stormers could force them to reconsider.
It was impossible for the 40 000 people who attended the pre-season game not to draw comparisons between the new stadium and WP’s home ground on the other side of Table Mountain. Quite simply, the one is modern, light and uplifting, while the other is old-fashioned, dark and depressing.
After the match, Stormers coach Allister Coetzee praised Cape Town Stadium’s excellent facilities and said he felt like they were playing overseas, while referee Mark Lawrence said the pitch was the best he’d ever experienced.
Those fans who I chatted to were also extremely impressed with the venue, from the five-star toilets to the concourse level that allows you to walk around the entire stadium in a few minutes to the translucent roof that covers every seat to the excellent sound system.
Parking wasn’t a problem as fans could leave their cars at the Cape Town Convention Centre and take a shuttle to the stadium a couple of kilometres away, while those who wanted to braai after the game could do so on the surrounding sports fields.
Traditionalists will baulk at the prospect of Newlands being consigned to history, but they need to put sentiment aside and get with the times. Just because Newlands has been the home of WP rugby for over a hundred years doesn’t mean WP should have to play there for another hundred.
Imagine if the Wellington Rugby Union had listened to traditionalists and decided to stay put at the old Athletic Park rather than move to Westpac Stadium – a modern, world-class venue that is closer to the city centre. Imagine if the Welsh Rugby Union had listened to traditionalists and renovated the old Cardiff Arms Park rather than build the Millennium Stadium, which is now regarded as the best rugby ground in the world.
Newlands is inevitably going to suffer the same fate as those other rugby relics, and it’s time WP administrators accept this. They need to start preparing for the future, and the future of WP rugby – whether they like it or not – is in Green Point.
By Simon Borchardt
Photo © Rory Ross/HSM Images
February 8th, 2010 at 10:22 pm
TASSIES: from experiance i beg to differ but I wont lie I have enjoyed many a fines evening in the changin rooms and it is good messy fun… A U a U a UCT
February 8th, 2010 at 10:23 pm
mmmmmmm, this would be very sad indeed. Spent many Saturdays in the terraces below the main stand. And the anouncer has been around for ever……..but, if it’s time to go then so be it. As long as the Stormers don’t treat it as an away game
February 8th, 2010 at 10:25 pm
It really is a no-brainer. The new stadium is miles ahead. And the money made by selling off Newlands for residential and commercial development can pay off all debt, including the money they owe the GLRU for Jaque Fourie.
I think the traditionalists who don’t want to budge have heard horror stories about the whores and drugs and ****** of Green Point and are afraid it might rub off on them over the course of an 80 minute game of rugby.
February 8th, 2010 at 10:30 pm
Who gives a toss where the 2nd raters move to they could move to robben island or even better into the ocean who would miss them instead of the stormers they could call themselves the floaters as they are better at floating than storming.
February 8th, 2010 at 10:33 pm
@TASSIES:
I still remember when everyone used to hang out in the car park of the old Newland’s Sun before hitting their sportsbar witha boerewors roll.
…that was way back when the Pig and Whistle used to rock…
February 8th, 2010 at 10:38 pm
@TASSIES:
Nothing like a “carpark” shout when playing on the field closest to the old zoo……..
February 8th, 2010 at 10:39 pm
@blueboy:
You for real?
February 9th, 2010 at 12:11 am
I havent read all the entries , hence just commenting on the article: Both stadias have their own pro’s and cons.I think for the time being one or two currie cup and maybe a test could be played there and see how it goes.With regards to the atmosphere etc etc in the new stadium: What if our teams play kak and the stadiums cant gather 15k plus? Less income will be made.The result: the “brand new” stadium falling apart like everything else.
February 9th, 2010 at 12:17 am
I can assure you, every single seat at Cape Town stadium has better views than Newlands. It was designed so that each seat is within 190 metres, with excellent sightlines for the human eye.
International teams, football and rugby would die for this stadium.
February 9th, 2010 at 4:34 am
Is there relaible public transprt to the venue? All of us that train it in from all over and converge on Newlands stadium dont have the advantge of cars. Is there a train station at the venue. No, so therefore all the other arguments dont count in my opinion.
February 9th, 2010 at 4:45 pm
here’s a thought… give Newlands a make over…
if you think there is so many problems with the stadium and it is so out of date (fail to see how, grass is grass), just vamp it up. Move to green point in the mean time while Newlands is getting a make over and move back once it has been completed.
February 9th, 2010 at 6:38 pm
All train lines lead to Cape Town. So most areas in Cape Town have access to the stadium. A high capacity IRT shuttle system is under construction to move spectators from Cape Town station.
You simply cannot compare access.
e.g. from Athlone, you have to go via Cape Town station, and the same applies to many other routes and suburbs. The station is in the process of a R450 million makeover, with new glass IRT bus stations outside the stadium and at the Civic Centre.
Even without the stations complete and using GA buses instead, the shuttle system was described by many as painless and even flawless.
February 9th, 2010 at 7:04 pm
Where is all the idiots that was laughing at the supposed color change for the Bulls?
Now they are panicking, because they might lose their home.
Shame
February 9th, 2010 at 9:06 pm
@Karoolander: “Where is all the idiots” indeed?
February 10th, 2010 at 12:05 am
that are classic.
February 10th, 2010 at 9:53 am
All train lines lead to Cape Town not Green Point. Try walking form CT station to Green Point.
How can an international stadium have no public transport! Yeah buses and taxis but it should be seamless, this is definetly retarded not having a train line. For gods sakes you could have built one, even a tram line.
Sooo stupid it seams some one with political clout wanted there and once agiain the punter is ignored.
No to transfering Newlands until the train line goes all the way.
February 10th, 2010 at 6:45 pm
Once again, the IRT stations and new Volvo buses will provide a high capacity shuttle between the new Civic IRT station under construction and the new Stadium IRT station under construction.
Why is this difficult to understand?
The Golden Arrow bus shuttle, a temporary measure was used, to test the route, with the final test event, testing the new buses, and stations.
The train line will not go all the way, it costs too much and the demand from the CBD to the stadium apart from match days does not support the cost.