Krige hits out at WP's decision

Cape Town - Former Springbok and Western Province captain Corne Krige has hit out his his old team's decision to keep Newlands as their headquarters.

The Western Province Rugby Football Union (WPRFU) last week announced they would not be moving to Cape Town Stadium after the union's clubs voted in favour of staying at Newlands.

The WPRFU are the owners of the Newlands Rugby Stadium - in turn, the clubs are the stakeholders and owners of the union - and a decision to remain at Newlands was carried by the clubs.

Krige though feels WP should have been more forward thinking in their decision to move to the newer stadium, which was built for the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

Krige expressed his dissatisfaction via his official Twitter account, tweeting:

It's disgraceful decision by @WP_RUGBY to stay at Newlands and not move to CPT stadium. Amateurs are running a great union into the ground.

— CorneKrige (@CorneKrige6) December 19, 2014

Krige, who played 39 Tests for the Springboks between 1999 and 2003, feels Newlands is currently not up standard and millions required for an upgrade.

Western Province's decision to NOT further consider relocating to the Cape Town Stadium was based on a number of factors, the main considerations being the following:

1. The WPRFU owns Newlands Rugby Stadium - including the ground it is built on - outright and is thereby in complete control of its own destiny. Any position for the WPRFU at the Cape Town Stadium will be as a tenant or a minority shareholder in an operating entity as the City has made it very clear the ownership will always remain that of the City.

2. Whilst selling Newlands Rugby Stadium and moving to the Cape Town Stadium would result in a significant one-off cash injection for the WPRFU, it would be financially very difficult to ever own, purchase or build another stadium in the future, in all likelihood relegating Western Province to a tenant in perpetuity.

3. There is a model whereby the existing Newlands Rugby Stadium and surrounding properties owned by the WPRFU can be redeveloped to create an additional income stream for the union and to enhance the area and nearby sporting stadia/facilities.

4. Spectator numbers at sporting events globally are under threat on an annual basis and we are concerned about the effect on the atmosphere in catering to smaller crowds in a 55 000-seater stadium.

5. Various other operational and commercial issues were also considered, including:

5.1 - The operating costs pertaining to events at Newlands Rugby Stadium are significantly lower than those at the Cape Town Stadium.

5.2 - The capital replacement costs at Newlands Rugby Stadium are significantly lower than those at the Cape Town Stadium.

5.3 - Co-ordination of events at the Cape Town Stadium will be more difficult - especially in light that certain major entertainment events (such as concerts) are scheduled 12 to 18 months in advance, whereas the WPRFU would finalise its Super Rugby/Currie Cup schedules only by October of the previous year.