After much debate and investigation, the Golden Lions and the Lions Super Rugby teams, under the guises of the GLRU and Lions Rugby (PTY) LTD have decided that their futures’ remain at their historical home Coca-Cola (Ellis) Park.
The stadium was rebuilt in the early 1980’s and was given another major facelift for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
The full media releases from the various parties reads:
Media Release For immediate release
16 October 2011
SMSA and GLRU joint statement
LIONS TO REMAIN AT COCA-COLA PARK
October 16, Soweto, Johannesburg – After lengthy discussions between Stadium Management South Africa (“SMSA”) and the Golden Lions Rugby Union (“the Lions”) to host all future Lions rugby matches at the Soccer City Complex and its main stadium, the FNB Stadium, it has been decided by the Lions not to accept the final offer by SMSA.
“We were informed by the Lions that discussions between us have concluded and that our offer was not acceptable to the Lions and that Coca -Cola Park will remain the home of the Lions. We are hugely disappointed that the Lions turned down our offer to host its Currie Cup and Super Rugby home fixtures at the Soccer City Complex”, said Jacques Grobbelaar Chief Executive of SMSA. “We have noted the expertise employed by the Lions in assessing the possibility of the Lions relocating to the Soccer City Complex and SMSA understand and respect the reasoning behind the decision made.“
President of the Golden Lions Rugby Union, Mr. Kevin de Klerk says “Coca-Cola Park will remain the home of the MTN Golden Lions. We must now focus on rugby and build on our strong Currie Cup season. We have fantastic rugby matches coming to Coca-Cola Park and look forward to seeing the home of the MTN Golden Lions packed to capacity on a regular basis.” He added that “the Lions will pursue any reservations about the stadium’s locality and will continue to provide a friendly, pleasing environment as has been done over the past few years.”
Issued by Stadium Management South Africa and the Golden Lions Rugby Union.
Media Release For immediate release
16 October 2011 EPWOS Statement
LIONS TO REMAIN AT COCA-COLA PARK
Johannesburg, 17 October 2011… The Shareholders, the Board of Directors, Management, Staff and the Key Stakeholders of Ellis Park World of Sport (EPWOS), are pleased to announce that the Golden Lions Rugby Union will continue to play all of their home fixtures at Coca-Cola Park going forward.
Coca-ColaParkremains an internationally renowned world class stadium within the greater Ellis Park Sports Precinct. This multi-code sport and entertainment precinct encompasses the sporting facilities consisting of Coca-Cola Park, the Johannesburg multi-use Stadium, the Ellis Park Aquatic Centre, the Ellis Park Arena and the Ellis Park tennis courts.
Through cooperative engagements with the City of Johannesburg, sound public private partnerships have been established to drive some much needed infrastructure developments in line with the City Growth and Development strategy.
We commend the Lions for their decision to remain in this world renowned stadium. In choosing to remain at Coca-Cola Park, the Lions will continue to play a pivotal role in the revival of Doornfontein, Johannesburg and the decision is the right one in terms of economic, social and environmental regeneration of the inner city.
Through Ellis Park World of Sport, the Lions, together with their partners, can make its vision to transform our public assets as key vehicles for local economic development and the preservation of heritage a reality.
Issued by Ellis Park World of Sport.
Good and bad sides to this story.
IF, the inner city rejuvenation continues, then IMO it is a good decision.
For those of you who haven’t been to the Coke Tin for a while, it REALLY has improved in recent years. On site parking, and lots of space around the stadia for socialising.
I’ve never been to FNB Stadium, so I am not qualified to comment on it’s advantages or otherwise.
Another example of the closed minded thinking prevalent in SA rugby.
I was last there in 1999, it was terrible then, swore I’d never go back
@ The_Young_Turk:
Perhaps the Lions want to play an active role in the rejuvenation of Johannesburg.
When last were you in the middle of KHB?
I was VERY pleasantly surprised when I last had to go in. I expected a sh1t hole, but it was VERY clean and tidy, no hawkers, and the traffic was actually okay.
I think this decision was not purely a Rugby one, although it’s not as clear as every Tom, Dick and Harry believe in terms of being a no brainer for spectators to get to FNB, plus there are the players to consider as well as the training, medical and office infrastructure that is already in place in the Ellis Park precinct.
Do you think that every GLRU employee (not just playing staff) would want to shlep 60 km a day from the Northern and Eastern Suburbs down to the deep South West?
There is also the question of the Chairman’s Council and whether they would have agreed to the move, although I’m sure that Mr de Klerk would have bought immense pressure to bear on them if it suited him to move.
As I said, there are pro’s and con’s to either decision.
Look how f-upped our rugby is. We have basically been given on a platter magnificent new stadia in Cape Town, Durban and Joburg but because there was not sufficient “consultation”, we refuse to move there. Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face. Too much political infighting still going on in SA. It makes me sad to see as a saffa living abroad. Our nation could be something spectacular if we could only pull together.
4@ Scrumdown:
Now WTF is KHB?
Should read JHB.
@ Scrumdown:
It’s mainly still a racial battle that is now fought on a political level. The people of colour represented by the ANC or government trying to force change on the whites represented by the fans and the old guard. Nobody wants to be told what to do, even if it’s in their own best interest.
@ The_Young_Turk:
Consultation is important when considering the length of various sporting codes’ pitches.
Have you ever watched a Rugby match played at a UK Soccer stadium?
The In Goal area is normally so small it’s actually dangerous.
Also, the 3 stadia you talk about would require the Rugby Unions leaving grounds that they either fully own, or have high high percentages of ownership in. Who would compensate them for leaving their assets and walking away?
There is always more than 1 side to the coin.
@ Scrumdown:
Look of course there will be justifications found. If you don’t really want to do something you’ll find flaws and likewise if you want to do something, you’ll overcome all the obstacles. My point is the will is lacking from the start because of politics.
9@ The_Young_Turk:
Look, I can assure you there are more than enough hidden agenda within the GLRU to start with, so “yes” I agree with you on certain issues.
I’m sure that the City of Johannesburg must have put a lot of pressure on the Lions to stay at the Coke Tin, and I’m sure the R 1.2 billion used in the upgrade of the Ellis Park Precinct was part of it.
Anyway. Enough for one day. Got a Parent’s Evening to go to. Lots of standing around waiting for teachers. Eish. Cheers all.
The flaws for the new stadia aren’t all rugby’s fault, the Green Point Stadium should never have been built (I can only talk for the Western Cape). A complete white elephant. Poor parking, Poor transport access, miles away from the majority of sports fans, the list goes on. It was a political/Fifa decision, without the best interests of the fans at heart. it should have been an upgraded Athlone stadium. So to ask WP rugby to move from a stadium they already own, noggal, was a bit rich, and I am surprised that the powers that be ever believed the WP would ever move. That place now stands as a monument to seagull sh1t, with the odd musical performance coming out every now and then.
@ Just For Kicks:
Have to strongly disagree with you there mate. There is a lot of misinformation around about these new stadia fed by a sensationalist media and political fighting. The reality is that FIFA rejected both Newlands and Athlone. There is not sufficient space around Athlone stadium meaning houses around the stadium would have had to be demolished. Newlands is SA’s oldest stadium. There is no future for it as it is no longer up to test match criteria. It’s situated in the heart of a residential area. WPRugby can rather sell this valuable property and invest the money and they could comfortably pay the rent at Greenpoint.
Not that I agree with the governments handling of the whole issue. They just expected or tried to compel the various rugby bodies to go along and mistakes were certainly made but that is my point. The whole thing is not handled as whats in the best interest of society as a whole, but as “you just do what I say”, and my response is “F-you”.
There is not a genuine commitment to work together in SA. There is still too much resentment and jostling for power and money.
@ Just For Kicks:
Most SA rugby supporters drive to the venue or take the train to Newlands. Where would you park at Athlone stadium? and where is the train station. Greenpoint is by far a better location.
It also fits in far better with the modern ideas of town and spatial planning and in Cape Town’s case, bringing activity back to the city centre. Athlone is far too dodgy and security would be a major headache.
The point is not so much that the new stadia are perfect or that mistakes were not made but that there is no will or interest in overcoming the mistakes but rather a gleeful pointing out of the shortcomings and a rejoicing and gloating at their failure.
Hello fellas.
Back in the Republic of Brakkenjanpan…
Was here briefly this morning to fix a few Articles, then out at clients the whole day.
It seems things go a bit wonky on the Blog when I’m not in attendance… two important Game Threads were captainless on Saturday and I see there was a bit of ill will against our friend, Old Griquas 14 yesterday. Seeing as nobody else has the grace to say sorry to the gentleman (and he is exactly that, a real gentleman). I will do it!
Old Griquas, I apologise on behalf of Rugby-Talk regarding the way you were treated yesterday.
Well, the World Cup is available on a platter now for the All Blacks!
The Blue Bulls are out of the running in the Currie Cup and the final 4 for the Currie Cup is determined.
Regarding the Lions choice to keep their games at Coca-Cola Park (Ellis Park) I can only say that I think they were and are stupid beyond reason. Only once you’ve been at FNB Stadium (Soccer City) would you realise how magnificent that stadium is. Parking is ample, the area much better and the facilities 1000 x better than at the Coke-Tin.
In my opinion….both stadiums are the incorrect choice. There is ample building space in the North East. Soccer City is what it is and it is suitable for Soccer as it is close to its support and fan base. Ellis Park is a good site for a rejuvenation development and should now become part of the urban landscape. No one needs to lose money here….The North and East of Johannesburg is where all of the Residential growth is taking place and the demographic profile of the people there is that of a rugby watcher and supporter. The Lions have got it wrong, they have been given poor advice.
I can only think of two examples in the world re stadia close to city centres and both are now hopelessly inadequate. Candlestick Park in San Francisco home of the San Francisco Giants and Yankee stadium in the Bronx in New York. I takes hours and hours for fans to get to these stadia now as most people come in from the outlying suburbs and the residents in the city centres are not really baseball fans! Twickenham rugby stadium is in the middle of a rugby supporters demographic residential area and the London authorities will not allow anything other than residential in the area, Kings Park in Durban is central to all suburbs but is not part of the city centre….good design, Loftus still works well, but parking is an issue there now. Newlands is also kept residential….but WP should start looking the stadium is too small for their huge fan base……just some of my thoughts. Right I’m going to feed the dogs now, my good lady has deserted me to go to a “Zumba” dancing class….have no idea what that is, but she is an African like me so am sure she will be near the top of the class for dancing some wild and exotic thing.
19 @ 4man:
It is prohibitively expensive to build stadiums… we’re talking more than a Billion Rand to build something closely resembling Soccer City.
Do you know where Nasrec is situated (where the Rand Easter Show is held for the last few years)? Access is easy to get there, in close proximity to the N1 Highway. So, with FNB Stadium already there, right next to Nasrec, built and fully facilitated, it would have been a good option.
oor nuweland,mens gooi nie al daai geskiedenis net weg nie ditto loftus ellispark en vs stadion,ja ja ja en seker kings park ok verbou verbeter ens maar NIE trek nie
GBS en Smallies. Ek hoor julle manne, ek verstaan die tradisies enso. En n ou wil goed soos dit nie weg gooi nie. Die staat het bygesit vir die nuwe Twickenham so hulle is vennote in die profeet daarvan. SA het nog baie om te leer. Maar Twickenham is deur die trein beskikbaar en dit sallie in SA gebeur nie waar “public transport” n probleem is. Daar is beter antwoorde as om met die oud stadions aan te gaan. GBS the fan base are still nervous about going to NASREC….in the end it is demographics that dictate not political expediency. I know what I would be doing if I was in charge of this for the Lions….it doesn’t have to cost them the Billions, people can buy a share in it and cheap loans at low interest rates are available from overseas. Now is a perfect opportunity to borrow the money and fix the exchange rate with the Rand strong, before it goes to 20/1 one can also fix the interest rate at 2 or 3%, your 20 year yield then is eminently doable with a big profit for investors during the payback….do the sums.
het nou net gedink hulle kan ook die Stadion op die Gautrein roete sit, daar is baie plek om te bou en ouens kan in en om Rosebank en Sandton parkeer en die trein vang, maar as hulle nou bou kan hulle beplan vir groot parkeer plekke voor infrastruktuur inkom, dan is die grond goedkoper.
@ 4man:
as a freestater i watch most of my live games in bloem and even during tests i have no problems getting parking within 5 min walk of the staduim,as a boy i grew up in brakpan and caught the train on numerous ocations to ellis park or to pta and walked to floptus to attend games,loftus about 15 min walk and ellispark was seviced by its own station
Louis Luyt wanted to build a massive stadium near Chloorkop somewhere (Midrand) years ago…. nobody had the foresight to do just that…
Ground there is now at a Premium, far more expensive than even built up land in the center of Joburg.
As far as FNB stadium is concerned, it is not even in Soweto, it is on the other side of the Highway, well out of the outskirts of Soweto. Why go borrow if you have a premium facility of that nature available… in a good area.
The thing is, I don’t think there is place, economically, for another new stadium in the JHB area, seeing as the SA World Cup Soccer stadiums already have a problem getting enough games to even warrant them staying open.
For instance, some statistics even suggest that it would be cheaper to demolish the newly built Cape Town Stadium, rather than maintaining it at about R 120 Million a year…
I would think the same applies to FNB Stadium and the ones in PE and Durban.
Sad, but true….
As far as holding on desperately to aging stadiums, for pure historical value… I don’t buy that argument, not even for a minute.
@ smallies72:
granted trains were safe clean and on time back then
@ grootblousmile:
Dishonest figures that GBS. It doesn’t cost near that to maintain the stadium. These figures include costs that the municipality would incur if there were events taking place on a regular basis, such as policing, cleaning, traffic control etc and also interest. Also keeping the lights on are also costly. It’s completely laughable to talk about demolishing the stadium. Cape Town municipality paid about 10% of the costs for building the stadium and the central government the rest. There is no debt on the stadium so there are no interest costs. These are hypothetical costs that opponents of the stadia create to bolster their fallacious arguments. The municipality owns this tremendous asset debt free. They just have to negotiate a reasonable deal with WP. They could even rent it to WP for a minimal rental. The fact is that they just assumed WP would move there and now WP wants a good deal or they will just stay where they are. Both parties are just stubborn as both are losing out. Newlands will cost a fortune to bring up to international standard, that’s if they can get the plans approved. And the maintainance costs for the old stadium is also mounting up.
@ grootblousmile:
Yip GBS, some bloggers went a bit overboard and took things too far. Felt bad for Old Griquas as he is a real gentleman.
@ grootblousmile:
I hear what youy sat re the Lions and moving, as well as the FNB Stadium’s good points, but the whole is not always apparent on the surface.
Questions that would have to have been asked:
Where do the majority of the GLRU / Lions employees live (Playing and otherwise)? Remember, you cannot force any employee to change their place of work to one that was not in their letter of contract without compensation.
What are the punitive clauses loke in the contract betweeen the Lions, EPWOS and Coca-Cola? Because you can rest assured there would be some. That naming rights is now into the 4th of 5 years if I’m not mistaken. Would the owners / management of FNB Stadium reimburse the GLRU / Coca Cola a hefty chunk of the R42 Million that the naming rights contract was worth, as well as find another income source? Methinks probably not.
How many of the “real” Lions fans would actually make the schlep to FNB Stadium? It’s easy to say that access is really easy, but you must remember that it’s about as near to the edge of the GLRU catchment area as you can get without falling into the Leopards area. Have a couple of drinks and suddenly a group of fans are R 65 km’s from Boksburg, and R100 in toll fees down.
Argue till you’re blue in the face about new fans from Soweto, and opening the game up to new audiences. The truth is that currently, it just doesn’t happen, why should it at FNB? Rugby tickets are just too pricey for the AVERAGE working class South African, whether he’s a Storeman that lives in Tembisa, or a Boilermaker from Boksburg North.
I’m sure that FNB Stadium is truly world class. I’m also sure that even after the upgrade, there are aspects of the Coke Tin that will NEVER be world class, specifically the public toilets, which for the most part are a discgrace, but when push comes to shove, I think we’ll eventually find out that this decision was made with short term financial criteria uppermost on the selection criteria.
And while we’re talking about it, any stadium is only as good on match day as those running it. I was privelidged to attend the Wales / SA test at the Millenium Stadium in November 2008 (I think) and the quality of service was outstanding. ESPECIALLY in the public toilets, where there was an employee PERMANENTLY mopping the floor clean, emptying the dustbins as soon as they got close to full, and making sure there were ALWAYS paper towels available.
I’m not sure that ANY of the companies running and managing our Stadia have that level of service yet, and I’m not sure that they ever will.
You and I are somewhat priveidged in that we rarely (these days) have to que up at a public toilet at a Rugby match, only to stand in 1/2″ of urine and then face neither soap or a means of drying our hands!
Now, that’s my bitch out of the way for today. Time to try to make a couple of Buffels so that I can afford some Captain for the semi-final. (Seeing that my accreditation is not valid and I didn’t get to request any for the match on Saturday, I guess I’ll have to watch at home with just Henry James Morgan as company! What a pleasure!!!)
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