By Lucky Vince Pienaar
It’s not as if Ellis Park was overflowing with spectators on Saturday. Yet, for some reason, hundreds of spectators were left trying to get into the stadium minutes after the match had started.
For once, there was a half-decent crowd at Ellis Park on Saturday for the Jukskei derby between the Lions and the Bulls. Of course, that’s not to say that Ellis Park was packed to the rafters with excited rugby fans.
Most spectators, on this blistering sunshine day, were looking for shelter in the shade on the western side of the stadium, leaving the opposite side virtually empty.
Attendance figures are not published openly for matches at Ellis Park (it must be embarrassing), but the 62,000-seat stadium would not have been much more than 20% full. And if that sounds like a small number of spectators, remember it’s a lot more than seen lately at the stadium.
So, you would think that every single spectator would be welcomed with open arms – except hundreds of spectators were left standing outside the turnstiles.
Fortunately, from the picture supplied, it is clear that rugby supporters are a patient lot. There was no pushing or shoving or people “demanding to see the manager”.
One wonders what would happen if, say, a crowd of 20,000 spectators suddenly decided to pitch up for a match.
Ellis Park has, unfortunately, developed a less-than-positive image. Undoubtedly, security is a problem. The feeling exists that it is dangerous outside the stadium. The management has always maintained that the problem must be handled by the municipality although they have additional security for bigger matches.
By contrast, at the other local derby on Saturday, about 17,000 spectators went to Kings Park Stadium in Durban when the Sharks played the Stormers. Not exactly a packed house, but pretty close to acceptable.
On the field, the Lions players have done a lot to lift their game and get people to come and watch. Perhaps management could find more innovative ways of getting people to the stadium. What those ways would be is a tough question, but those are the solutions they must find.
Pictured above: Hundreds of spectators waiting to get into Ellis Park – minutes after the match had started!
Image source: Cobus Bester/Supplied
