Kissing Newlands goodbye
8 Feb 2010
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
167 Comments
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8 Feb 2010, 10:55 am
@justrugby:
What about Newlands then?
Leave it to go to rack and ruin?
8 Feb 2010, 10:55 am
@PissAnt: @WP Till I Die:
Actually, scratch that. Any financially beneficial move to CT Stadium by WPRFU would require some form of financial management acumen from the WPRFU administration.
Which, in my humble opinion, is utterly lacking.
8 Feb 2010, 10:56 am
@WP Till I Die:
Who ownes the stadia?
The council or Morne DuP’s company?
8 Feb 2010, 10:56 am
@PissAnt:
How are they buying Habana, Fourie and others then?
8 Feb 2010, 10:57 am
@Dawn:
WPRFU would make a **** load of money selling Newlands…
8 Feb 2010, 10:58 am
@Tacitus:
WP rugby has been selling fixed assets for years now.
8 Feb 2010, 10:59 am
@PissAnt:
The stadium is owned by the City of Cape Town. SAIL/Stade de France are the operators…
8 Feb 2010, 11:00 am
@Tacitus:
One would guess that they wangle budgets, but as far as pure organisational profits go from my understanding WP are not making much of that, if any at all.
2 Years ago they actually made a loss if memory serves…
8 Feb 2010, 11:00 am
@PissAnt:
That question I take as a sign of direspect , I have been going to Newlands since 1975, and our offices were in Protea road claremont !!!!
I am fully aware of this but in no way is it comparable to V&A or Greenpoint from a restaurant, pub perspevtive , not close !!!!
Parking have neever been a problem ????
WPRFU could make a fortune by selling that ground, hey if the likes of Arsenal, who probably have a richer history than Province can move from Highbury to the Emirates, Liverpool will be moving from Anfield one of these days, why not Province to a fantastic venue ??
8 Feb 2010, 11:01 am
@WP Till I Die:
So SAIL etc is leasing it from the Council in effect?
8 Feb 2010, 11:02 am
@WP Till I Die: Sail and “friens” financed it. So it “belongs” to the City of Cape town….. but they skuld a helluva lot of money on it to “Sail & friends”
8 Feb 2010, 11:02 am
@PissAnt:
Sail/Stade de France were awarded the service contract to operate the stadium during FIFA 2010 – the City of Cape Town pays them to manage the stadium up to and during the World Cup, after which the consortium will lease the stadium from the City for at least 10 years.
8 Feb 2010, 11:04 am
@PissAnt: @PissAnt:
Yes, they did make a loss.
And yes, SAIL/Stade de France is leasing it from the Council for a minimum of 10 years after the SWC, and a maximum of 30 years.
8 Feb 2010, 11:05 am
@justrugby:
Oh okay sorry then Toppie!!!
Parking in and around any stadium is not the most pleasant experience, my point is quite simple, although not great, WPRFU managed and still manages this effectively.
Parking at the new stadium has its own challenges, hence I said the problems faced is relative.
I am well aware WP will make lots of money selling Newlands, and it will be a massive cash injection.
But that comes at a price of selling an asset, and continuing in future to rent facilities which to me is a short term fix financially – not long term viable.
Arsenal, Wales and all the teams and clubs mentioned have moved from one thing they ‘owned’ to another thing they ‘own’ not so?
Massive difference.
Convince me that of the financial viability of a move like this and I would join in the choir, until then, does not make sense to me.
8 Feb 2010, 11:06 am
India 221/6
8 Feb 2010, 11:07 am
@justrugby: I totally agree with you, Pissant is being emotional about this rather pragmatic. If Liverpool can move out of Anfield, leaving behind “The Kop” after 100 years why cant Newlands, Lansdowne Road is gone, the Irish now have Aviva Stadium, Kings Park is no longer Kings Park is ABSA Stadium, Ellis Park is no longer Ellis Park.
Its simply, Greenpoint Stadium will simply outbid Newlands, remember money talks, you know what walks
8 Feb 2010, 11:08 am
@XhosaKid: “you know what walks” LMAO!
8 Feb 2010, 11:08 am
It must be said, that is one FINE looking stadium ! if it had a backdrop of Table that it would be nigh perfect. Is there anything near the new stadium yet, ie bars, restaurants etc ? plans to ?
8 Feb 2010, 11:09 am
@XhosaKid:
See #64.
8 Feb 2010, 11:10 am
@PissAnt:
Cool, let’s see how this pans out, I like most love Newlands, the history the tradition, but after taste of the new , I want more
222/7
8 Feb 2010, 11:10 am
@XhosaKid:
Name changes not the same as moving lock stock and barrel.
8 Feb 2010, 11:11 am
@Black Panther:
It does have a Table Mountain backdrop.
Everywhere here has a Table Mountain backdrop.
8 Feb 2010, 11:12 am
@justrugby:
If WPRFU decide to build or buy a New Newlands, buddy I am all for it.
This is not the case currently.
8 Feb 2010, 11:12 am
@Black Panther:
Bars and restaurants aplenty.
Hotels by the dozen.
Come visit.
I will give you a tour.
8 Feb 2010, 11:12 am
@justrugby:
Dale Steyn is on FIRE!
8 Feb 2010, 11:13 am
@justrugby:
Would you agree … just avoid the red area in summer?
8 Feb 2010, 11:15 am
can you imaging playing rugga in Green Point when a Cape storm is pumping off the ocean @ 100km per hour.
I’ve watched rugby @ Newlands since I was a child, there is no place like it. The carnival atmostphere on match day is the best.
WP will not move.
Rupert and SAIL can get into soccer IMO.
8 Feb 2010, 11:15 am
Well, if the Moses Mabhida stadium (Durban) compared to Absa stadium is anything to go by, these new stadiums realy makes the old seem very small and downright ugly. The new Durban stadium is right opposite the Tank, and there is simply no comparison between the two, I’m hoping the Sharks will make a move to the new stadium next year, it’s a beautifull venue. I’m guessing the same is true with the Cape Town stadium, hard not to make an emotional decision.
8 Feb 2010, 11:16 am
that the move will happen is enevitable….its only a matter of time.
This is big money and business
not tiddlywinks
Just never going to sit in the sun again!
8 Feb 2010, 11:16 am
@Dawn:
How was that sun !!!!, it’s called the red area for a reason
I look like a cooked crayfish !!
8 Feb 2010, 11:17 am
Whaaaaaaat… sun in CT? Can’t be!
8 Feb 2010, 11:17 am
@FireStraeuli:
I think the Durbs stadium is the pick of the bunch !!
8 Feb 2010, 11:18 am
@justrugby:
As do I – I resemble a high-season Pommie tourist.
8 Feb 2010, 11:18 am
226/8 – steyn picks up 5
8 Feb 2010, 11:19 am
@WP Till I Die:
8 Feb 2010, 11:20 am
If i have my facst correct the ground the Newlands occupies is not theirs, they merely have a leasehold on it.
8 Feb 2010, 11:22 am
@brains_trust:
Your are doing your nic no justice
8 Feb 2010, 11:22 am
@justrugby: and just look at what moving to the Emirates has done to Arsenal’s bottom line.??
8 Feb 2010, 11:22 am
@grant10: @justrugby: @WP Till I Die:
Listen people.
I still look comparatively normal.
Must be the cullart genes!
8 Feb 2010, 11:22 am
@justrugby: I was there this weekend, only saw it from the outside though, but it is a magnificent piece of artistry.
I looked at the poor old Shark tank, and it looked like a street child compared to the new stadium…simply beautifull!
It even has a sky car running along the massive oval beam over the stadium, sadly it was out of order, but what a view it will be.
8 Feb 2010, 11:24 am
@FireStraeuli:
And an income generator , I believe they charge for trips over the arch ??
8 Feb 2010, 11:25 am
@Staal:
Die mense het gebrand ****.
8 Feb 2010, 11:25 am
@FireStraeuli:
Economically, probably the stupidest move in the world and the reason the Sharks wont move is this.
Should the sharks make the move, they will be out of pocket to the tune of 40 million a year because of the lack of corporate suites at the new stadium.
The Sharks actually have the Durban municipality over a barrell on this one as they still have quite a few years left on a their lease. To make the Sharks move, the municipality would have to fork out roughly R500 mil to make up in loss of revenue gained from the suites.
Unfortunately, Mike Sutcliffe and the rest of the clowns at the Durban Municipality have splurged on such trivial things as changing all the street names and as such are woefully short of that amount of cash.
Besides that, the MM stadium will be super shite to actually watch rugby at because of the distance between the seats and the playing surface.
In short, the Sharks are going nowhere.
8 Feb 2010, 11:26 am
@XhosaKid:
Exactly, and the fans love it !!..Higbury a great but distant memory !!
8 Feb 2010, 11:26 am
@fuzzy:
Nope – the ground the stadium is built on was bought by Western Province Rugby and Football Union in 1888 already…and under South African law in terms of inaedificatio any buildings erected on land becomes the property of the person owning the land.
The stadium is definitely owned by WPRFU.
8 Feb 2010, 11:26 am
228/9 steyn 6
8 Feb 2010, 11:27 am
@justrugby: They charge for everything there, R80 for a trip over the arch, R70 for a guided tour through the stadium and R20 to go and stand on the pitch….
Dont even wanna know what a wc ticket will cost. I’ll have to start saving now if I want to see a game there.
8 Feb 2010, 11:28 am
@Dawn: sentiments, Dawn, sentiments…
Pissant @64, selling Newlans will enable WPRFU, to have enough cash to buy a considerable stake of the Greenpoint Stadium if not an outright majority shareholding, and in time they can own the stadium.
8 Feb 2010, 11:29 am
@grant10:
Watching the game with you is hysterical!
Picture this. Schalk goes off after 20 mins in the first half.
Halfway through the second half, Grant turns to everyone and says “Where’s Schalk!”
Missed everything!
8 Feb 2010, 11:31 am
@Dawn: LOL
I only watch the scrums!
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