Comments on: Cape Town Rugby Festival – a few thoughts

By: Coldplay in Cape Town: transport & event details | 6000 miles from civilisation...

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 11:02:03 +0000

[...] sort of information is always done to death on the local interwebs, but even after the Rugby Festival, the World Cup, numerous Ajax games, Bafana Bafana v USA; even after “big” U2 and [...]

By: ctguy

ctguy — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 21:59:29 +0000

Soccer fest atmosphere was muuuuch better. Less rehearsed. More colourful.

The stadium is German designed, hence the Mercedes reference. The stadium is so Germany. Simple, elegant, light and airy….the crowd and city provides the colour and character.

Oh wait..thats what the architect wanted.

By: Last rites | 6000 miles from civilisation...

Last rites | 6000 miles from civilisation... — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:24:12 +0000

[...] reason for the rugby not to move from Newlands save for tradition. As has been remarked upon in the comments on this post, change is never easy to accept – especially where such a long and proud history exists [...]

By: 6000

6000 — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 12:31:25 +0000

Joy-Anne > Still by far the most culturally mixed events I have been to are big footy games.

By: Joy-Anne

Joy-Anne — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 12:13:28 +0000

While i wasn’t at the rugby fest one of the things I did enjoy about the soccer fest was the mixed crowd – ages, races, levels of intelligence and all. also found the vuvus well annoying in the (echoing) food buying areas but once in the stands they didn’t bother me at all – even tho we were surrounded by them. The atmosphere really was electric.
.-= Joy-Anne´s last blog ..Eddie Izzard in South Africa – A Review =-.

By: 6000

6000 — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 10:53:03 +0000

TA > Oh TA. Purhlease. Assableeeef.
Of course I could have taken in sweets for Alex – I wasn’t taking a full confectionery store. Just a couple of packets of Werther’s Originals, which still came along – and got in with no issue – despite his unfortunate absence.

And then the whole rugby v football debate explodes again. Kaboom.

OK – let’s put it this way. On Saturday, you claim that 40,000 rugby fans turned up “to admire the awesome stadium, not to watch a meaningless game of rugby between Stormers B and the Country Bumpkins”. Fine – I’ll give you that.
But then, a couple of weeks ago, 20,000 football fans turned up “to admire the awesome stadium, not to watch a meaningless game of football between Ajax and sorry Santos”. And the atmosphere was AMAZING. TREMENDOUS.

Or, put more qualitatively: just “present”, in stark contrast to this past weekend.

If that silence is what makes rugby fans happy, then I’m happy for them. But you and I have both been to Newlands (together on one chilly evening when you wouldn’t share your blanket, as I recall) (well, not with me, anyway).
And we know that there are times when it goes completely silent. You”ll never get that at a footy game.

Anyway – I’ll finish with one thing I’m sure we’ll agree on: Vive le differerence.

P.S. Theoretically, Klaus from Munich will only be in Cape Town for match 61 (SF1). But I’ll look out for him and gob in his ear, Rudi Voller-like.

By: Tall Accountant

Tall Accountant — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 10:30:31 +0000

Aaah 6000 – misguided again…
Firstly you couldn’t have taken in sweeties for Alex (as per your previous post) because they would have been confiscated – harsh I think.
The quiet atmosphere from the ‘dreaded rugby supporters’ was due to the fact that most people were there to admire the awesome stadium, not to watch a meaningless game of rugby between Stormers B and the Country Bumpkins . What is this obsession with having to having to make a bloody racket and act all excited when gathered in groups of a thousand or more. CT rugby fans are certainly the most loyal and probably excitable in the country but just cause they are not banging drums and blowing trumpets doesn’t mean they are not having fun. I’m certain that if a meaningful WP/Stormers/Bok game was held at Green Point the atmosphere would be incredible- and people could actually watch the action without being deafened by a single toned, annoyingly loud, gob dripping vuvuzela. I didn’t hear one on Sat and thank goodness. Fine defend the beast – it’s unique, it’s ours, whatever – everyone seems to miss the point that the noise is just really annoying. Do we really expect Klaus from Munich to fly all the way here, part with a small fortune for flights, tickets and accomodation and then go home with tinnitus after a thoroughly unpleasant game and say, “oh well, it was a unique experience”. Ja – uniquely rubbish.

By: 6000

6000 — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 08:08:37 +0000

Tara > There was, but no-one looks back and says how much better the old place was, do they?
Apart from the lighthouse, obviously. Because that was better.
Kiddo on the mend, but only running at 80%, thanks.

ctguy > Mercedes Benz – how insulting. It’s far nicer than that.
Yes, the move will come. At some point.
And yes, I knew about Hammy’s.
Did you know that I used to play football there? My first game was a 0-0 draw and I got knocked out by a shot about 10 minutes in.

Ro > He was so disappointed. Broke my heart. On the mend now though.
He WILL go to the football – vomiting or not.

Sipho > As I said above, people may hate change, but once it’s done, no-one looks back – except in fully-acceptable nostalgia.

BobM > Nice place, isn’t it?

By: BobMabena

BobMabena — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 07:12:02 +0000

Bring on the move…
I love Newlands, but this new stadium is just awesome…. Facilities and viewing angles are way better than Newlands.

By: Sipho

Sipho — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 20:02:51 +0000

I remember there were quite a few bleats when the Gunners moved from Highbury to the new and sinfully gorgeous Emirates venue, despite the fact that the old stadium was basically a converted sheep pen. Arsene Wenger – God bless his Frog heart – told the weepers to knob off. And that’s I’m telling everyone who complains about rugby teams having to move into the newer, bigger and better venues. Knob. Off.