CEO Rudolf Straeuli has explained why the Lions’ next two Currie Cup home matches will be staged at university venues instead of Ellis Park.
The Lions will host the Vodacom Bulls XV at UJ Stadium (10,000 capacity) this Saturday and the Boland Cavaliers at Wits Stadium (up to 15,000 capacity) later this month before returning to Ellis Park for their clash against the Stormers XXIII.
Rugby365 reports that fewer than 1,000 fans paid to watch the Lions beat the Pumas in their round two Currie Cup fixture at the 62,000-capacity stadium last Saturday despite tickets being just R40.
However, that is not what prompted the move to smaller venues.
“With back-to-back All Blacks fixtures being hosted at Ellis Park [Springboks vs All Blacks on 22 August and Lions vs All Blacks on 25 August], we are busy preparing the turf to ensure its readiness,” Straeuli told Rugby365.
“UJ and Wits, with whom we have long-standing strategic partnerships, have welcomed us with open arms to host two of our Currie Cup fixtures at their respective venues.”
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Straeuli dismissed suggestions that good crowds at the smaller venues could prompt the Lions to move more matches away from Doornfontein.
“Ellis Park will always be the home of the Lions,” he said.
“If it’s an overwhelming success, of which we anticipate it to be, we will bolster our efforts on attracting those audiences, mainly students, through strategic marketing and collaborations, to Ellis Park.”
Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
The post Straeuli: Ellis Park will always be Lions’ home appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
CEO Rudolf Straeuli has explained why the Lions’ next two Currie Cup home matches will be staged at university venues instead of Ellis Park.
The post Straeuli: Ellis Park will always be Lions’ home appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
