One of the country's oldest sports grounds, Newlands cricket ground, will get a name change soon, in line with a sponsorship deal to be announced on Wednesday between Sahara Computers and the United Cricket Board.
Mother City sports lovers are fuming over the report of a name change for their cricket ground. Management at Sahara Computers and Western Province Cricket Association have decided to hold off on giving any further details of the sponsorship until later this week.
Western Province sports fans are known to be particularly touchy with the renaming of their sports grounds. Five years ago, the Newlands rugby ground, which is close to the cricket stadium, was renamed after an insurance company. When the-then president of the Western Province Rugby Union announced the change, he was greeted with abuse and flying objects.
Concern is rising that Sahara Computers may be heading for a similar reception on Wednesday when the first of the new Standard Bank Pro20 limited overs games is played at Newlands. Some 10 000 people are expected to watch and the Newlands crowd is known to be noisy and particularly vociferous at games.
According to a Cape Times report, former Western Province cricket captain Hylton Ackerman was upset when told of the deal. "You've ruined my evening," he is quoted as saying.
The decision to rename Newlands cricket ground comes at a time when the Western Province Cricket Association has had to face up to certain economic realities. It recently bought the ground from the Western Province Cricket Club for R30 million and is desperate to get more corporate sponsorships.
Share
Editorial contacts