Currie Cup: Less is more
OPINION: The Currie Cup tournament may be a shadow of its former self, but the quality of the product could be enhanced by one simple move by most of the respective unions.
Since South African Rugby decided to pull the plug on top-level Springboks participating in the Currie Cup from 2014, the competition’s spectator numbers have been on a rapid decline every year, especially during the league stage.
The Currie Cup has always been known to draw sold-out crowds weekly in its prime years; however, the sport’s landscape has changed significantly over the last 10-15 years.
New and varying time slots, single-round tournaments, and top-level teams fielding Under-21 and club players with one or two veterans simply don’t make the price of admission lucrative for many as it once did.
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In 2015, the Lions defeated Western Province at Ellis Park to claim the title, but there were more empty chairs than bums on seats for that Final.
In the Lions’ defence, the event occurred the same day the Springboks faced the All Blacks in the World Cup semifinal, which took place moments after the end whistle blew for the Currie Cup Final.
The Cheetahs managed to draw a nearly sold-out Free State Stadium in 2016 and replicated the feat in 2019. They also managed to draw a 33,804-strong crowd for the 2023 Currie Cup Final.
The Griquas filled their 11,000 capacity Griqua Park for the 2022 Final against the eventual champion Pumas, and that was a prime example of what needs to happen to give the competition more credibility.
This season’s best Currie Cup attendance occurred in the opening round at the Cape Town Stadium as old rivals Western Province hosted the Bulls and drew a crowd of just over 14,000 in a 55,000 capacity stadium.
Imagine those people were all crammed into the Danie Craven Stadium, which holds 17,065 spectators. The television product and fan experience would be of a much better quality.
We’ve seen prime examples this season with matches at the Boland Stadium (11,000 capacity) packed for their two home games thus far, and last season when the Bulls hosted the Lions at Midstream College in front of a sold-out crowd of 5,000 spectators.
There was a clear vibe and a sense of excitement from those people in and around the area who might not be able to make it to Ellis Park, Loftus Versfeld or Cape Town Stadium.
The Sharks recently hosted their home match against the Cheetahs at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium, but didn’t enjoy such great support as the above-mentioned events, so it’s not a perfect blueprint.
Still, it would do the Currie Cup product the world of good if the Lions played at UJ or Wits Stadium, where they will be able to attract a bunch of eager students who want to witness provincial rugby.
The same argument holds water for the Bulls, who can use Tuks’ LC de Villiers Stadium, which has a capacity of 14,150, compared to Loftus Versfeld, which hosts 51,762 spectators.
The same crowd at a big stadium is a much more attractive and vibrant crowd in a smaller, more intimate venue, and it would also bring the game to the communities that aren’t always able to commute to the bigger stadiums to witness their provincial heroes.
