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, 11:31 am
@XhosaKid:
Like I said, if buying or building a ‘new’ Newlands is what it comes down to, and it makes financial sense to do it, then go for it…
8 Feb 2010, 11:31 am
@John Galt: Oh well, maybe I’ll just have to go and watch a psl game to see what it looks like there.
Yeah they have been going bos on the name changes thing, typical lack of planning and foresight…so the new stadium will be the official new white elephant of South Africa.
Sad actualy, I must say though, the Shark tank does give a great view of the game, and you are right on the field there.
8 Feb 2010, 11:32 am
@Dawn:
Blame it on the sun and not the Windhoeks !!
8 Feb 2010, 11:32 am
@XhosaKid:
Aaagh I’m a sentimental old sap.
Valentine’s Day bunny.
8 Feb 2010, 11:33 am
India is trying to force a “follow on” to spin us out when we bat last!
8 Feb 2010, 11:33 am
Emirates – the boxes alone create more revenue than all the seats revenues combined, which in turn is more than Highbury ever generated. Sport needs Corporate money to sustain and grow, whether you like that or not.
Green Point is the logical next step for Province, whether they did a venue share with the Soccer teams is the pertinent question. As to ownership – the Government doesn’t want an asset like this – hence selling it to WPRFU/Soccer bodies over time makes perfect sense! Leasing company would love to have WP there for all the right reasons!
Newlands – sure it’s been the home of Province rugby since time began, our hearts say stay. But our heads say move! Our kids will only ever love Green Point and that as they say is that, times they are a changing and whilst Newlands backed to capacity is a sight to behold – even Loftus makes it look a little old school! Westpac, Aussie Stadium, Emirates, etc… these are quality stadiums, Green Point is where it’s at – cut the strings of sentimentality and get moving!
8 Feb 2010, 11:34 am
@John Galt: BTW, seems you’ve been privy to some serious inside info, I’m guessing you should do the article on the Durban stadium’s why’s and why not’s.
Any info on why rumours has been doing the rounds of unhappieness at the Sharks?…LOL
8 Feb 2010, 11:37 am
233 all out – steyn 7
8 Feb 2010, 11:38 am
233/10
8 Feb 2010, 11:39 am
@justrugby:
Yip, it’s Dale Steyn’s best-ever performance – 7/51.
8 Feb 2010, 11:39 am
@FireStraeuli:
Look, all is not lost i dont think, the stadium is beautiful and there will still be plenty of use for it as it is in one of SAs major cities(think also of non sport activities eg concerts etc.)
Also, apparently Durban wants to eventually host bigger athletic comps eg commonwealth games etc and it certainly has the fascilities to do so now.
The problem is how its going to be funded between these events as the maintanence on such a stadium must be huge, let alone servicing the finance.
8 Feb 2010, 11:46 am
@John Galt: If I’m not mistaken Durban has put in a bid to host the olympics, not sure which one and what’s happening with it.
Just wished the stadium would have made a good rugby venue, but if the seats are too far from the action, no thank you.
8 Feb 2010, 11:49 am
@Tacitus: Very well put Tacitus. There is a long and checkered list of cities and countries regretting all the expenditure down the line. They should have upgraded Newlands instead.
A note about Loftus: A good mate of mine who’s an ex bok and WP stalwart once remarked to me when I spoke of the old “The springboks have never won at Carisbrook” voodoo, that he couldn’t understand what the fuss was about. The town is basically a university town, with a bunch of students. “if you want an intimidating stadium, go and play at Loftus” he told me,…”they are drinking brandy and cokes and hurling abuse at the bus…..and that’s just the women….”
He he he made me laugh. I agree that the unions must own the stadium and “make it their own”. Bulls statues and all……
8 Feb 2010, 11:49 am
@Staal: LOL!!! Good decision by Smith, another hour of play and our bowlers can then go and relax and be fit again tomorrow, in fact ,in total they have only bowled just over 60 odd overs, so they are still in good shape.
8 Feb 2010, 11:51 am
@stormersboy: HAHAHAHAHA, yeah, ‘and that’s just the woman’….give them anada chance
8 Feb 2010, 12:01 pm
I posted this earlier, but its also relevant here.
I only managed to see the second half on TV. The stadium looked impressive, giving a feeling light and air. Regarding the atmosphere, it just did not come across on TV, I thought it was very subdued and was very surprised to read that the atmosphere was so great. A 40 000 crowd at Newlands comes across as having much more atmosphere – to this tv viewer at least.
As many of you were at the game, what are your feelings on the vibe of a 40 000 crowd here as opposed to the same crowd at Newlands.
8 Feb 2010, 12:07 pm
@SuperStirrer:
Put it this way.
There was a lack of “atmosfeer”.
8 Feb 2010, 12:18 pm
@SuperStirrer: It was a very good atmosphere considering it was a meaningless warm-up game.
8 Feb 2010, 12:30 pm
I’m with Pissant on this… WP/Stormers should stay at Newlands.
And I don’t think it has anything to do with sentiment or emotions. So everyone had a great experience on Saturday… great stuff. But that does not mean all of a sudden that Newlands is not a great experience… Who cares if football teams in Europe want to go to new grounds… that doesn’t mean WPRFU must follow suit.
There is a lot to be said for tradition in rugby that makes perfect business sense. For example, Frans Ludeke said post the CC semi that the noise and crowd and vibe at Newlands really got to him and the Bulls and that he’d never experienced anything like it before. Having that sort of support counts for a lot and lifts the team to better performances… which is better for business.
Just because something is modern and new doesn’t necessarily make it better for business.
Having said that… the Grand stand is around 50 years old and in need of renovation/rebuilding… WP are bound to use Cape Town Stadium when that happens…
To those who say to stay is emotional and sentimental … I put it to you that your responses are emotional and sentimental based on a wonderful afternoon’s entertainment…
If you really look at it in cold hard business terms… this is what you get…
A lot of pressure is being put on the Union to move because without WP rugby that CT Stadium is unlikely to be a financial success. It makes perfect business sense to dismiss all approaches outright… wait four or five years till Morne’s group are desperate and then negotiate a very good deal from a position of strength… Then WP can dictate the terms of any move and THAT is what makes business sense… possibly relieving SAIL of the lease in the process…
8 Feb 2010, 12:31 pm
@Simon:
Are you arguing with me on purpose aspris.
8 Feb 2010, 12:32 pm
@Nick Armstrong: Aha, simon’s *** lover makes an appearance again.
8 Feb 2010, 13:00 pm
I’ve been going to Newlands from when I was a kid. I try to watch as many S14 and Currie Cup games as I can manage. I love Newlands, but in the long run I can’t help but feel that the move to the CT stadium is almost inevitable.
Neewlands is old and run down and there is no easy way of fixing it.
Maybe the Stormers should move to CT stadium and then WP can stay at Newlands, but then again having two stadia is probably not financially viable.
8 Feb 2010, 13:14 pm
Question. How many deaththreats has Simon Borchardt received since posting this article?
Wish the okes at the Golden Lions would think in the same direction! People do not like going to Ellis Park. Even some okes I know from Krugersdorp are sceptical these days. And they are what you might refer to as “rof”.
8 Feb 2010, 13:54 pm
@Kiddo: Lions should move to Soccer City.
8 Feb 2010, 13:59 pm
@Kiddo: Ask the Fifa delegation, wearing bullet proof vests and everything when visiting Jo’burg…even the Bok-N(aa)i-Pan’ers will think twice before going to Coke park.
8 Feb 2010, 14:02 pm
From IOL
Beautiful stadium … pity about the traffic
By Clayton Barnes
Stadium operator Sail/Stade de France and the City of Cape Town say they will go back to the drawing board to devise a comprehensive traffic management plan for the third World Cup test event next month.
This comes after traffic ground to a halt around the Cape Town Stadium precinct on Saturday, causing thousands of spectators to miss the curtain-raiser match between the SA Legends and the International 10s.
The match was followed by the main game between the Vodacom Stormers and Boland.
Motorists with tickets for VIP parking waited up to an hour to get into the main parkade because sniffer dogs checked every vehicle entering the stadium precinct for explosives and narcotics.
“This is a joke,” said one spectator. “It takes each car 50 minutes to get in and we are only 40 000 spectators. What about 68 000 for the World Cup?”
Sail/Stade de France executive director Morne du Plessis said a comprehensive traffic management plan would be crucial for the next test event, a religious gathering of about 60 000 people on March 22.
“Traffic was the biggest challenge,” he said. “The European seating arrangement (a particular method of seat numbering) is also a bit complicated, but people will get used to it.”
Four people were arrested for being drunk during Saturday’s events.
Three City of Cape Town units were involved in the policing operation.
The metro police arrested one person for driving under the influence of alcohol and issued 20 traffic fines amounting to R5 300.
A 27-year-old man was also fined R200 in terms of a city by-law for allegedly setting off a firecracker in the stadium after the match.
The city’s traffic services arrested one person for reckless and negligent driving and issued 97 traffic and parking fines.
The city’s law enforcement unit issued 63 fines totalling R46 750 for parking offences and illegal trading.
It also confiscated goods worth R50 000 from illegal traders.
Two warnings were issued for contravening city by-laws.
Stadium paramedics were also kept busy.
A man in his mid-60s collapsed and died after suffering complete cardiac arrest soon after entering the stadium, while another spectator was treated for chest pains at the stadium medical centre.
Dr Wayne Smith, head of the stadium’s 2010 medical emergency team, said several attempts to resuscitate the man at the stadium failed.
He was then taken to the nearby Somerset Hospital, where he was declared dead.
8 Feb 2010, 14:43 pm
i was one of the traditionalists, but after seeing the game at the stadium i think they should move.
8 Feb 2010, 15:02 pm
If a decision is made to stick with Newlands a lot of money needs to be spent on maintenance and repairs. As well as upgrading facilities.. (Ask any of the ladies who have to queue for 20 minutes to go to the loo)
The actual structure of the Railway Stand looks decidedly dicey these days with some nasty looking cracks in the concrete showing… Sooner or later the stands will become a danger.
Perhaps a sharing of games could be done with the big matches and tests going to Green Point.. The Railway Stand could then be re-developed in to a smaller stand with offices to help offset costs and the Stadium used for CC and Vodacom Cup type games.. Even bring back a bit of Club Rugby again to Newlands…
8 Feb 2010, 17:10 pm
Newlands is the home , soul of rugby , maybe share the two venues !
8 Feb 2010, 17:43 pm
As much as I love Newlands, the ridiculous comments comparing access at Cape Town stadium to Newlands is laughable.
There is no comparison. By the WC and beyond, new IRT stations and buses, will move spectators easily. The entire area is ideal for large events, close to hotels, restaurants etc.
Try getting a drink at half time at Newlands during the Tri-Nations….
For all the sentiment of Newlands, the first rugby match in RSA was played in Green Point, the oldest rugby club in RSA is adjacent to the stadium.
Do you guys really think the city is going to approve any major upgrades to a residential stadium stuck in the 60′s?
8 Feb 2010, 17:47 pm
SAIL own 25% of the WP Rugby, so surely they have an interest in the success of the union and rugby in the province.
Stade de France hosted numerous world cup matches at the Stade de France in Paris, and certainly bring some more experience to the table.
8 Feb 2010, 17:53 pm
I say move. Just wait till I get a chance to go to Newlands.
Call the new stadium Newlands Cape Town Stadium and sell the old one.
Arsenal moved to the Emirates from Highbury and actually developed the old stadium into flats.
You can buy a flat which was actually part of the old stadium.
That way the heritage is kept and there’s money to made.
That real estate is worth enough to pay off our debts and to sign Dan Carter on a life long contract!
8 Feb 2010, 17:54 pm
Huge difference between the new stadia in Cape Town and Durban.
Durban has an athletics track, while CT stadium is designed for rugby with the larger field, and curved bowl which is ideal for viewing rugby.
8 Feb 2010, 18:44 pm
Get over it Kaapies and move to Greenpoint. Bye bye Newlands.
8 Feb 2010, 18:58 pm
Newlands is old, she is reaching the end of her life, usually 50 years for a stadium, and it will only be a matter of time before something will need to be torn down and rebuilt … WP cannot afford that.
Let’s face it folks pretty soon the top test matches between the All Blacks and the Convicts will only be played at the biggest stadiums, namely Loftus and the Coke Tin because of higher capacity, more VIP suites, the altitude advantage and more knowledgeable and intimidating rugby fans.
The Shark tank and Newlands will host the year end tours and the Argies 4N matches. So please stay at the tank and Newlands, I do not mind at all.
8 Feb 2010, 20:19 pm
I was left cold by the green point stadium, you are miles from the action, also how often is newlands sold out, maybe in a “good ” season but otherwise ?
rather upgrade newlands and use green point while that happens.
8 Feb 2010, 20:19 pm
If it will mean that Ready D and bands like the Klopse will feature more strongly then Im for this.
Im with Simon on this.
Im not sure why Im discussing it here with you guys – Ill talk to Tobie Titus and the boyz directly.
Uitgesawt.
8 Feb 2010, 20:30 pm
ALso i Hope the sharks never leave Kings park for that white elephant, moses mabhida, both the soccer and rugby stadiums in dbn were built at more or less the same time, one ” had ” to be demolished the other is maybe the best place to watch rugby, the pitch of the stands gives such a unique view, you can see the play happening and afterward the vibe is amazing how much money could be saved by just upgrading kings park, also these stadia are new lets see how good they look in 10 years time
8 Feb 2010, 21:18 pm
I would leave WP and the Stompies at Newlands with some serious modernization.
I would, however, have the Boks play their Cape Town games at the Green Point Stadium.
I would also do the same with Durban.
The only real emotional tie that people have to these stadia is based upon their respective provincial histories.
Apart from Ellis Park, I would say that the Boks have no stadium to which they belong. Besides, Ellis (Coke) Park doesn’t have a provincial team that play there.
8 Feb 2010, 21:25 pm
Won’t work. Cape Town Stadium doesn’t have standing room. Nowhere for the papsak dronkies to vloek, fight and pass out.
8 Feb 2010, 21:44 pm
there is no comparison… Newlands is the worst stadium in the country, its very unprofessional,dirty and the springboks hate the ground… Ive lived in Cape Town all my life and it seems the stormers, province and the Springboks play better away than they do at home… a percentage of cape town cannot let go of the past and move forward and support the all blacks which is a very sad and cowardly thing to do… its time to have a new beginning but not let go of the old tradition but start an Era of stormers/province/springbok rugby that matches the COLLASEUM thats been born in the cape!!! Its Beauty, strength and Power and grace will attract the best players in the world to want to come and train and live here….
If we do not let go of Newlands we will be the laughing stock of the country and the world for not takin the correct decision while a crappy team like Santos and Ajax have a Magnificent stadium!!! The nickname “THE COLLASEUM” will catch on and many blood will be spilt on this holy ground!!
Old newlands ill say goodbye but not completely, half the stadium that faces the mountain should be demolised and be turned into an events/concert/ oprah house and Cape Town will be voted the most beautifal City in world…!!! CAPE TOWN
8 Feb 2010, 21:57 pm
…it would seem obvious really.
internationals at greenpoint, wp/stormers at newlands.
don’t want to diss newlands too much. I watched my first test match there back in ’86 against the Cavaliers. Stood right in front of where Carel Du Plessis dotted down.Was pissing with rain as usual.
8 Feb 2010, 22:04 pm
On the positive side of the balance sheet; Newlands has tradition, position, grace, atmosphere, respect, culture and Forries as assets to be taken seriously. On the other side of the sheet, Newlands is in disrepair, out of date, embarassing ablutions(I’d rather have a No 2 in the bush), poor access, Morne DuPlessis and Ohllsons Brewery sometimes smells worse than my vilest ****. Against all this traditionalist’s best expectations, I’ll have to back WP to move to Green Point sometime soon. Makes perfect sense whichever way I looked at it on saturday afternoon.
8 Feb 2010, 22:05 pm
@stormedwolf:
Coliseum
8 Feb 2010, 22:05 pm
@Brigadier Van Zyl: if it wasn’t pissing with rain Brig, it wouldn’t be Newlands. Don’t be a wet.
8 Feb 2010, 22:08 pm
@katman: they all moved to a room in Braamfontein. Probably not standing much though.
8 Feb 2010, 22:10 pm
@TASSIES:
well, that’s the real issue really.
Is there another rugby stadium in the world that carries Newlands’ history and tradition.
that’s about all it’s got going for it really.
8 Feb 2010, 22:13 pm
Sorry COLISEUM!!!
but either way, I like the way it sounds of blood being spilt by schalk decapitaiting his prey…
O another idea would be to get UCT involved in Newlands… Really annoying watching such talented ikeys players having to play against a brick wall (wind) for 40 minutes every match and with small crowds!! could be a good idea considering American Universities host 40-80 000 students and basketball/american football… would only increase the professionalism, standards and tradition of club rugby!!
8 Feb 2010, 22:15 pm
@Brigadier Van Zyl: well it does have Forries Brig. Unique I’d say. Maybe they should just keep Newlands for that asset alone. Personally drank many girls pretty there. Great talent.
8 Feb 2010, 22:17 pm
@stormedwolf: bad idea. Nothing like playing beneath Jammie Steps, in a howling north wester.
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