The former home of Eastern Province rugby, the Boet Erasmus Stadium, is currently in a state of ruin.
Sport24
The stadium, which had a capacity of 33 852 and was named after Boet Erasmus, a former mayor of Port Elizabeth, was officially closed in July 2010. The last match to be played at the stadium was a friendly between EP and the Blue Bulls on July 3, 2010.
Subsequent to its closing, the Eastern Province Rugby Union (EPRU) moved all games to the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium which was built ahead of the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
The stadium is most famous for the ‘Battle of Boet Erasmus’ Test during the 1995 Rugby World Cup, in which the Springboks beat Canada 20-0.
The match saw not only a power failure, but the issuing of no fewer than three red cards – to Springbok hooker James Dalton and Canadian duo Gareth Rees and Rod Snow. Springbok wing Pieter Hendriks was cited post-Test, and along with Dalton, was banned for the remainder of the tournament.
Sadly, today, the stadium is in a state of rack and ruin, as illustrated by former Springbok legend Rob Louw’s tweet and image, below.
So sad to see old Boet Erasmus stadium being broken down by vagrants. What’s happening disgrace – Rob Louw
Boet Erasmus Stadium in ruin
Shocking. Used to run past it from EP command up the road when I had the urge to try get fit during my national service. Very sad to see such a historical stadium go to rack and ruin. It would be better for the stadium to be demolished completely and a commercial or housing development be built in its place, rather than see the desolation that is happening to it.
The legasy of cheeekey
Flok dit lyk sleg daar…maar aan die ander kant, Nelson Mandela Bay stadium is nou daar en awesome…
@ grootblousmile:
Yes the new stadium is EXCELLENT in terms of watching Rugby, but if you think Ellis Park is in a tardy area, then you are VERY mistaken.
The new stadium in PE has NO PARKING, and is an absolutely sh1thole of an area with dodgy characters “offering” to protect your car parked on the public (albeit close to his flat) road for a not insignificant fee.
Location, location, location!
Lack of planning. This asset could have been sold and money ploughed into developing rugby in the EC, or if the stadium belonged to the city council, they could have used it for something worthwhile.
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