City pulls clever stadium move

City pulls clever stadium move

23 Jan 2013

Western Province may not want to move, but the City of Cape Town is happy to find creative ways to host top flight rugby at the Cape Town Stadium.

As such, the traditional pre-season friendly between the Boland Kavaliers and the Stormers will be played at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday, 9 February – a move that will no doubt be welcomed by passionate Cape Town rugby fans.

The City and the WP Rugby Football Union have been at loggerheads over the past few years, with the City wanting the union to move to the luxurious stadium in Green Point given the financial burden it has become due to high maintenance costs.

The WPRFU, in turn, argues that it is not its problem, and that it would be too expensive to move from its traditional base in Newlands, which it owns, to the Cape Town Stadium, where it would have to rent.

The Stormers website lists the following pre-season fixtures:

2 February: vs Cheetahs (in Bloemfontein)
9 February: vs Boland Kavaliers (in Wellington)

But the City of Cape Town has secured an arrangement with the Boland Rugby Union to host the game at the Cape Town Stadium.

Both Boland and Western Province will get an opportunity to further test their team’s depth for the Vodacom Cup season, with a curtain raiser scheduled before the main event between a Boland Invitational XV and the Western Province Vodacom Cup side.

With the inaugural Community Cup due to start on 16 February, perhaps it would have made more sense to have seen Boland’s representative in that tournament, Villagers Worcester, take on either SK Walmers or Durbanville-Bellville, the two sides representing WP, in the curtain raiser.

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140 Comments

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  • 1.ufo: Reply to this comment
    23 Jan 2013, 06:34 am

    good news… had planned to drive out to Wellington for this game… so cool to just have to pop into town for it

  • 2.stormer in a teacup: Reply to this comment
    23 Jan 2013, 06:38 am

    The City needs to sell the stadium to WP rugby who would then sell newlands to developers. No more ongoing costs and a cash injection should suit the city.

  • 3.RL: Reply to this comment
    23 Jan 2013, 06:49 am

    What a lame article from some lame no-name brand pretend writer. What happened to JC and Vrede? Did the dwarf fire them to safe on cost, leaving us with a cheapo.

  • 4.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    23 Jan 2013, 06:53 am

    i dont understand what was ‘so sneaky’ about this?

    why the liberties with creative license?

    how to turn a work of fact into fiction in two easy steps…

  • 5.stormer in a teacup: Reply to this comment
    23 Jan 2013, 06:57 am

    There is nothing sneaky at all. The city can invite whoever it likes.

  • 6.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    23 Jan 2013, 06:58 am

    @stormer in a teacup-2:
    yes, but how do you accomadate the soccer brigade as well as promoters for musical and similar events, in addition to maintaining a high quality rugby pitch for VC, CC, Super Rugby and any internationals you might get?

    if cape town ends up with only one stadium where do the rest go?

  • 7.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    23 Jan 2013, 07:00 am

    Its more clever by the city than sneaky.

    I willl now be attending this game.

  • 8.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    23 Jan 2013, 07:03 am

    @i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-6: The soccer can play on wednesdays and sundays, the soccer guys also like to use newlands and athlone stadium. Vodacom cup is usually played on smaller grounds within the city.

  • 9.stormer in a teacup: Reply to this comment
    23 Jan 2013, 07:03 am

    That problem exists anyway if WP play their rugby at CT Stadium. Other stadiums manage to find a balance. If other uses are not paying the bills by themselves, they are not numerous enough.

  • 10.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    23 Jan 2013, 07:03 am

    @RL-3:
    i dont want to start a riot
    but i think it’s Tank Lanning

  • 11.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    23 Jan 2013, 07:05 am

    When seen in isolation it may not be sneaky, but when you take into account all the other crp that the city has pulled in trying to encourage WP to move then it starts to look different.

    I’ve been reading Tank’s articles for ages now, he’s a good writer and should bring a great perspective to especially the technical aspects of the game like scrums etc.

    Use it, don’t use it ;)

  • 12.RL: Reply to this comment
    23 Jan 2013, 07:06 am

    @i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-4: @stormer in a teacup-5: nothing sneaky at all – just kak reporting. Boland as the host union can host whoever at the CT stadium.

    Brokebacks will also have to get used to the fact that their precious Newlands is dying – never again will a test match be hosted at that dump thanks to Jurie Roux, a true Bolander.

  • 13.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    23 Jan 2013, 07:06 am

    What is the damage? R20?

  • 14.Tankman: Reply to this comment
    23 Jan 2013, 07:08 am

    @i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-10: @RL-3: Tank Lanning indeed … and thanks for the warm welcome :) … Not to worry, I have my rhino hide firmly in place, and happy to mix it in this rugby mad pub … And yes, perhaps “Sneaky” is using my creative license a little too liberally. But this fixture was down to be played at Wellington, and the City basically “Bought” it from the Boland RU. Clever yes, great for CT yes, sneaky, perhaps a little given what has gone down between WPRU and the City …

  • 15.Tankman: Reply to this comment
    23 Jan 2013, 07:09 am

    @stormersboy-11: Thanks meneer. Here’s hoping …

  • 16.ufo: Reply to this comment
    23 Jan 2013, 07:09 am

    at least tank has played the game so his writing has an authenticity that was perhaps lacking on keo before his appointment…

    why would that start a riot bakks…?

  • 17.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    23 Jan 2013, 07:10 am

    @stormersboy-11: Like the not providing traffic services for Newlands on game day.

    @stormer in a teacup-2: Will things balance out?

  • 18.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    23 Jan 2013, 07:10 am

    @Sasuke-8:
    ok, thanks.
    so that just leaves big event promotions.
    also if something goes wrong with the turf what will the fall back plan be?

  • 19.ufo: Reply to this comment
    23 Jan 2013, 07:11 am

    boland ru are should get more for the game than if they’d hosted it themselves…

  • 20.Tankman: Reply to this comment
    23 Jan 2013, 07:12 am

    I see Grant Pascoe of the City of Cape Town has just Retweeted the link … Perhaps the City is a little proud of their move? I would be …

  • 21.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    23 Jan 2013, 07:12 am

    @Tankman-14: Is there also a new decision that SARU will allocate Tests and not the Unions?

  • 22.RL: Reply to this comment
    23 Jan 2013, 07:13 am

    @i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-10: so Keo hired some mediocre blogger to write – hell man he should have gone for quality and head hunt pissant.

  • 23.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    23 Jan 2013, 07:13 am

    @RL-12:
    :grin:

    you have a way with words, RL

  • 24.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    23 Jan 2013, 07:16 am

    @i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-18: Back to Newlands.

    @Tankman-20: Anything to get one over WP. I will probably get something on my cityweb later urging people to go to the game.

  • 25.stormer in a teacup: Reply to this comment
    23 Jan 2013, 07:17 am

    @RL-12: In your dreams Sweetpea. I think might be confusing it with Ellis Park and Super rugby. Wallabies at Newlands this year.

  • 26.ufo: Reply to this comment
    23 Jan 2013, 07:17 am

    @Sasuke-24:

    can you let us know where and when tickets will go on sale bud…?

  • 27.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    23 Jan 2013, 07:18 am

    @Tankman-14:
    hehehe morning Tank, and thanks for coming out to play all the same.
    agreed, it’s more smart by both parties than it is sneaky and good for everyone involved i suppose (except the faithful Boland crowd?).

    i would guess the COCT sweetened the deal nicely for Boland.

  • 28.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    23 Jan 2013, 07:19 am

    @RL-22:

    Lol, the bloke’s rugby playing and academic credentials make him probably one of the most over qualified rugby writers in SA.

    Welcome back anyway… congratulations on your team’s fantastic performance against Russia, they seem to be going places this year

    Who do they play next. Siberia? :)

  • 29.RL: Reply to this comment
    23 Jan 2013, 07:19 am

    @Tankman-14: welcome and what have you and the little man done with JC and Vrede?

    I am highly upset that I am no longer bombarded with JC’s daily mumblings on ‘Stormers must this and that’ articles and ‘AC must this and that’ articles.

  • 30.Tankman: Reply to this comment
    23 Jan 2013, 07:22 am

    @Sasuke-21: Yep, SARU have taken back the tests, so make the call as to ehere they will be played. This year might see the last ever Test played at Newlands!

  • 31.ufo: Reply to this comment
    23 Jan 2013, 07:23 am

    so tank…

    join our superbru pool and show us what you got… :wink:

  • 32.Tankman: Reply to this comment
    23 Jan 2013, 07:23 am

    @RL-29: Ha Ha … I am sure you will find them somewhere … Part of Keo’s seperation from Highbury Safika sees him regain full control of keo.co.za again, and I have come on board as a partner …

  • 33.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    23 Jan 2013, 07:23 am

    @ufo-26: Yip will send an email now to the communications department.

    @RL-29: And where is my friend Gareth D?

  • 34.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    23 Jan 2013, 07:24 am

    @ufo-16:
    jammer Oom (goossshhh! :roll: ) :lol:

    @Tankman-14:
    Welcome Tank :grin:

    (Warning! this place is a zoo)

  • 35.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    23 Jan 2013, 07:25 am

    @RL-22:
    hahahaha
    :lol:

  • 36.ufo: Reply to this comment
    23 Jan 2013, 07:25 am

    @Sasuke-33:

    thanks bud…

    @i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-34:

    :lol:

  • 37.RL: Reply to this comment
    23 Jan 2013, 07:26 am

    @stormer in a teacup-25: no man, SARU has the right to host teat matches at any stadium they choose, CT will be CT stadium not Newlands. Same story in Durban where the guppy tank will lose out to Moses.

    @Robzim-28: thanks, I must admit I was a bit nervous going up against those Bears. :smile:

  • 38.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    23 Jan 2013, 07:26 am

    Yes it’s interesting to see the “new look” front page. No more “keo team”.

    On the plus side they still stare at me on the articles pages.

    I’m curious to know who is still around on the “team” front.

  • 39.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    23 Jan 2013, 07:27 am

    @ufo-31: Think Tank has his own superbru pool, we must join that as well.

    @Tankman-30: Yes it makes sense to have top quality international matches at Cape Town Stadium.

  • 40.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    23 Jan 2013, 07:28 am

    @Sasuke-24:
    i thought the plan was to demolish Newlands?

  • 41.stormer in a teacup: Reply to this comment
    23 Jan 2013, 07:28 am

    @Tankman-30: So what about all the money unions had to pay to host a test?

  • 42.ufo: Reply to this comment
    23 Jan 2013, 07:28 am

    so now the hore thread really comes in handy from a marketing perspective…??

  • 43.ufo: Reply to this comment
    23 Jan 2013, 07:29 am

    @Sasuke-39:

    yeah i know he does…

    but good point…

  • 44.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    23 Jan 2013, 07:29 am

    @stormer in a teacup-25: Might be the last test at Newlands.

    @stormersboy-38: I will facebook Gareth D now to find out where he is? lol

  • 45.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    23 Jan 2013, 07:31 am

    @i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-40: oh then they would have to go to Athlone stadium or Boland stadium.

  • 46.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    23 Jan 2013, 07:32 am

    @Tankman-30: yes, but in the end rugby will be the winner.

  • 47.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    23 Jan 2013, 07:35 am

    @i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-46: Cape Town Stadium will open up new fans coming to the game. It is just much more convenient than Newlands…..except maybe getting out of the waterfront if you parked there.

  • 48.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    23 Jan 2013, 07:39 am

    @Sasuke-47:
    i really meant it as a ‘sneaky’ backdoor putdown of WP/Newlands… but ja… that too..

  • 49.BrumbiesBoy: Reply to this comment
    23 Jan 2013, 07:39 am

    I find it strange that Boland will be hosting their “home” game at the CT stadium.

    We all know how passionate about the game the people of Boland are, and what happened to SARU’s stated objective of “taking the game to the people”?

  • 50.BrumbiesBoy: Reply to this comment
    23 Jan 2013, 07:41 am

    @BrumbiesBoy-49: = people of the Boland

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