Saturday’s fixture between South Africa and England is set to bring down the curtain on 127 years of Test rugby at Cape Town’s Newlands Stadium, a venue steeped in history, but one well past its sell-by date.
The Springboks host their tourists in the third and final Test of the June International series seeking to make a clean sweep of wins and, if weekend reports are to be believed, sign-off at Newlands on a high.
The cash-strapped Western Province Rugby Union (WPRU) is reportedly to sell the ageing venue to help pay its crippling debts and take up residence at the Cape Town Stadium across the city, a modern facility that was built ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
WPRU’s business unit has been in liquidation since 2016 and owes Remgro Sport Investment R44 million in a loan made to the union, while they are also facing a R276-million lawsuit for allegedly reneging on a contract with advertising rights company Aerios.
Bok coach Rassie Erasmus would not be drawn on the speculation during a press conference on Monday, except to speak of “special” feeling players get at the venue.
“I’ve coached and played here and Newlands is a wonderful stadium. Everybody knows how we feel about tradition in South Africa,” he said.
“I’m not sure if it’s true or what’s the reasoning behind it, so I can’t really comment on that, but Newlands is special and we’ll enjoy the occasion whether it is the last test there or not.”
Newlands is set on prime property and would likely bring in more than enough in sale revenue to steady the financial future of the union, though they would then move from owners to tenants in their home venue. But aside from business, it is also the right choice for the fans. South Africans, generally, have a deep sense of nostalgia and Newlands holds plenty of that for many.
But it is no longer a venue that, especially when full for test matches, can provide a comfortable, or arguably even safe, fan experience. When rugby was first played on the site in 1890, one year before its Test debut, the suburb of Newlands was nowhere near as developed as it is today.
It was more like farmland then, but now houses and businesses surround the venue, with parking on match day a bun-fight, and an inadequate number of food and beverage establishments around the ground to provide an enjoyable experience for all fans.
The stadium itself has tight corridors and difficult access and exits, and I have been caught up in a number of ‘crushes’ down the years as fans pour out of the constricted openings onto the narrow surrounding streets. The facilities inside the venue are poor, access to the upper levels of the stands slow and cumbersome, and food and beverage options extremely limited.
In short, it is not a venue that meets the needs of modern day sport and how that should be enjoyed. Just two months ago I was at Minute Maid Park to watch the Houston Astros take on the Oakland Athletics in Major League Baseball. The game was OK, but what struck me was the ‘fan experience’ and how what was happening on the field was just a part of the whole game-day enjoyment.
The venue was almost full that Friday night, yet there were no lengthy queues for food and beverages because there were more than enough options. There was no being shoved around as people moved through the stadium because the space in the corridors was plentiful, as were the toilet facilities. The feeling around the venue, even in the stands, was one of space and comfort, not claustrophobia.
I grew up watching rugby at Newlands and as a young boy and teenager it was a thrilling experience for me. But that thrill has long passed. In fact, if my job did not take me there I doubt I would go at all, so unpleasant is the experience.
The Cape Town Stadium is an altogether different feel. The surrounding suburb has plenty of attractions for fans, the generous concourse areas make access easy and the facilities within the venue are first class. There are strong travel links to the stadium in terms of buses and while it does not have the same steep, intimidating stands as Newlands, it is a good ‘viewing’ ground that when full can create a superb atmosphere — as evidenced by the Sevens Series events that have been staged there.
It’s capacity is 55,000, more than Newlands, though provision will have to be made for the numerous suite holders at the current stadium, many of who have invested quite heavily to make their ‘box’ the kind of experience they want.
Many people are resistant to change, but when it is change for good, which this most certainly would be, then you need to put ‘heart’ aside and starting using your head. Teams across a multitude of sports have moved to more modern, comfortable facilities in recent decades, leaving all that history behind, because it makes business sense and because the expectations from fans in terms of their match-day experience is higher.
The Stormers and the Springboks would take up residence in the most state-of-the-art and comfortable rugby venue in the country, comparable with anything in Europe or Down Under, and that could well see more fans flock to the stadium.