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The Lions next play the Stormers in Cape Town in the URC on 21 December 2024, kickoff is at 15:45

REVEALED: WHY LIONS ARE STAYING AT ELLIS PARK

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Lionsinpta View Drop Down
Jong Leeu
Jong Leeu


Joined: 30-Mar-2016
Location: Stellenbosch
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Lionsinpta Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: REVEALED: WHY LIONS ARE STAYING AT ELLIS PARK
    Posted: 14-Feb-2023 at 7:13am
Quote REVEALED: WHY LIONS ARE STAYING AT ELLIS PARK

The Lions Rugby Company has contemplated a move away from their iconic home base, Ellis Park, but for the time being, will continue to play their games in the Doornfontein suburb of Johannesburg.

The steady decline of the Ellis Park precinct and the escalating crime rate – a problem for all of South Africa’s major cities – has made a visit to the stadium a lot less family-friendly.

Another major contributing factor to poor attendance at the 62,000-seater stadium is the Lions’ erratic form in most competitions – like the Currie Cup and United Rugby Championship.

Their debut in the Challenge Cup has brought some success, as the Lions will host French giants Racing 92 in a Round of 16 clash at Ellis Park on April 1.

However, attendance has been ‘sparse’ to say the least.

With their biggest crowd of the season a disappointing 12 000, the Lions Company is hard at work to make a visit to the stadium a more attractive option.

Unlike the Stormers, who took the plunge to move away from a derelict Newlands, the Lions are determined to hold onto their iconic stadium.

Lions Company CEO Rudolf Straeuli told @rugby365com that they decided against playing some matches at smaller venues for practical reasons.

“There are some great games coming up,” Straeuli said about the ‘attractions’ on offer at their Doornfontein-based home.

He said moving away from Ellis Park is “not an issue”.

“We have contemplated it,” he told @rugby365com, adding: “We have suite holders and season-ticket holders [to consider].

“This is an iconic stadium with a lot of history.”

He added that the numbers are increasing and there is already a ‘bigger uptake’ for this coming Saturday’s United Rugby Championship showdown with the Sharks at their Doornfontein Den.

“We are starting to understand the competitions we are playing in,” he said of the URC and Challenge Cup competitions in Europe.

He added that the marking department has several ‘activations’, including the double-header with their neighbours the Bulls in April to attract more spectators.

This includes a doubleheader at the Den on April 15 – when the Bulls and Zebre will play in a ‘curtain raiser’ to the Lions versus Leinster URC Round 17 encounter.

Then, the following week at Loftus, the Lions versus Zebre will be the ‘curtain raiser’, with the Bulls hosting Leinster in a crucial Round 18 match.

“We will see how that is supported,” Straeuli said.

Apart from hosting the Sharks in a URC Round 14 game this week, another attraction at Ellis Park include the URC Round Six replay encounter between the Lions and Glasgow Warriors on February 25.

In July the Springboks will host Argentina in a Rugby Championship Test at Ellis Park.

“The defending World Cup champions will be playing their last game before heading abroad [for the final build-up to the World Cup],” Straeuli added.

REVEALED: WHY LIONS ARE STAYING AT ELLIS PARK
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Lionsinpta View Drop Down
Jong Leeu
Jong Leeu


Joined: 30-Mar-2016
Location: Stellenbosch
Status: Offline
Points: 342
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Lionsinpta Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14-Feb-2023 at 7:17am
Gaan 'n paar vere seker omkrap, maar hulle moet dink om wedstryde, anders as Springbok wedstryde, by kleiner stadiums te speel.

Finansieël kan ek nie sien dat hulle enige sins iets maak nie. Dan is daar ook die ander faktore, sekuriteit seker een van die grootste.

Ongelukkig sien ek die Unie is in die selfde pekel as Worcester Warriors in die volgende 5 - 10 jaar.
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Attie Karate View Drop Down
Koning Leeu
Koning Leeu
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Attie Karate Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14-Feb-2023 at 1:30pm
Om op EP te bly gaan nog die unie se ondergang wees. Soos ons al 10 jaar gelede gesê het. Toeskouers word al hoe minder by die jaar, want die area raak goorder by die jaar. En daarby wil ek nie deur dit alles gaan om te kyk hoe my span verloor nie.Daar is bitter min wat die unie kan doen om die area beter te maak. 

Ons het so paar weke gelede Imagine Dragons by FNB stadium gaan kyk. Het letterlik 15 minute gevat vandat ons in die kar geklim het tot op die highway. En daar was derduisende mense.

Ek het geen behoefte om my kinders EP toe te vat nie. Sal hul eerder Loftus toe vat vir Bulls vs Leeus games. 

EP is beslis die beste stadion in die land, op die kakste plek in die land. 
Up the Vaal!
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AK  View Drop Down
Ervare Leeu
Ervare Leeu
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AK  Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14-Feb-2023 at 2:43pm
Ek stem.... Dit is die enkele grootste rede hoekom ek nie meer gaan kyk nie.... Nie lus vir moeilikheid nie en het al daar gehad.
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