Durban -
A new match “share-deal” between the Sharks, KwaZulu-Natal cricket and Durban’s R3.4-billion Moses Mabhida Stadium is imminent as officials move to ease the R100-million running cost of the World Cup venue to ratepayers.
Vusi Mazibuko, the head of sport for the eThekwini Municipality, confirmed that talks with rugby, football and cricket bosses were under way to arrive at a new deal for sport in the city.
“We are trying to find a space in our diaries where we can all meet and thrash out the technical details. The leadership at the Sharks has been very open to our ideas. We have all agreed that we can’t delay these discussions any longer. There is no reason why we cannot accommodate cricket and rugby regularly at Moses Mabhida. And why can’t football games be played at Kings Park? Why can’t we share? You will definitely see some action on this early in 2015,” he said.
The Sharks and city officials said the deal was a clear sign that the breakdown in trust between former city manager Michael Sutcliffe and the rugby union’s former chief executive Brian van Zyl was in the past.
Mazibuko said the 54 000-seater stadium operational deficit was down from R34.6m in 2012/13 to R14m in 2013/14.
To break even, 12 events a year, with at least 30 000 spectators, were needed. While 24 events were held in the past financial year, they did not draw big crowds and the target was not met, he said.
However, Sharks rugby fans have been assured that a move to the stadium, which made a R14m loss last year, was not the plan. The Sharks own Kings Park Stadium, which is fully paid off, but the land is on a long lease from the city.
To allay the fears of diehard fans, Mazibuko said the Sharks were under no pressure to move. He said the rugby franchise needed to have a separate identity and brand.
Rather, the immediate idea included sharing A-grade rugby and football games between the venues.
Several meetings were also held with the provincial cricket union to identify matches that could be played at the stadium which, five years ago this month, was declared ready to host the 2010 Fifa World Cup.
Mazibuko agreed that suites would have to be built and the field area would need to be made bigger and improved to accommodate cricket.
“These are technical issues which we have talked about. We now know they can easily be sorted out,” he said.
Graham McKenzie, KZN Rugby Union president, said the union was remaining positive. “It is premature for us to be discussing any details, but we are fully behind the city’s drive to make Durban the country’s number one sporting destination. There is a good relationship developing between us. We believe it is going to bear excellent fruit,” he said.
Jesse Chellan, the chief executive of the Sunfoil Dolphins, said the union was waiting for Mazibuko to report back on changing the dimensions of the field.
“The playing surface may be a problem if there is a clash with rugby or football, but it is not a problem to cut the grass down and bring in a drop-in wicket. The only issue is the size of the pitch,” he said.
Kingsmead is owned by the city. The union’s lease expires in 2035.
In Cape Town earlier this month, the Western Province Rugby Union announced it would not move to the financially embattled R4.4bn World Cup stadium in Green Point.
McKenzie said this meant some of the ideas under discussion could see Durban as the first city to arrive at a viable and workable business plan for its World Cup stadium through a private-public partnership.
- The Mercury