WP's stadium move back on track

The Western Province Rugby Union and the City of Cape Town have enter into "formal talks" about the possibility of the WPRFU moving base from Newlands to the city's new stadium in Greenpoint.

In a joint media briefing on Thursday Patricia de Lille, the Mayor of Cape Town, and WPRFU President Tobie Titus revealed that they have agreed to enter into "formal exploratory talks" to discuss the potential of WP and the Stormers leaving the iconic Newlands stadium and using the Cape Town Stadium as a permanent base.

However, both emphasised that it will be "years" before the entire process is completed.

"It definitely is not going to be months, it is going to be years," Titus said, adding: "However, we hope to finish the process as soon as possible - there are many outside influences.

"There will be many issues on the table," he added.

De Lille revealed that both the City of CT and the WPRFU will establish a number of "technical teams" to deal with a range of issues that need to be resolved before a possible move can be considered.

"The City's primary Department in managing these discussions will be Tourism, Events and Marketing Department, as Cape Town Stadium is one of six strategic assets that fall under their authority," the Mayor said.

"We understand that there is a great deal of public interest in this matter and we therefore undertake to keep the public informed of any major developments related to this process.

"However, in the interim and in the best interests of the process, we ask that the technical teams are given the necessary space to complete their work.

"These discussions come at a time that Cape Town Stadium is experiencing one of its busiest periods since the FIFA 2010 World Cup, with three large events being held at the Stadium over the coming weeks.

"The City remains committed to doing all that is possible to make this world class asset truly sustainable and accessible to all Capetonians and we are grateful for the constructive spirit in which the WPRFU has agreed to enter into these talks."

She added that the previous stand-off between the two organisations now belongs in the past.

"In the past there might have been some adversity and we had some fights," De Lille told the media gathering at the Newlands stadium.

"[However], we have now agreed to let all bygones be bygones.

"We will start afresh and tale the process forward that way."

Titus said the joint statement captures their "intentions" and it captures the "possible way we want to go [forward]".

He said these negotiations are not an event, it is a process.

"It will take some time to sort out the various issues and to come to a final decision," the WPRFU boss said, adding: "I want to appeal to you [the media and public] to have patience.

"I want to repeat, it is not an overnight process, as there are a lot of issues to be addressed."

He said that Thursday's announcement shows the willingness of both parties, the WPRFU and the Cape Town city council, to engage in discussions in the interest of Cape Town.

"It is not about us, but about the community that we serve."

The WPRFU boss, Titus, reiterated that ultimately it will be the union's decision whether they want to move and when.

"That decision [to move or not to move to the Cape Town Stadium] was recently reconfirmed by 92 clubs..

"They [the clubs] reaffirmed that for the time being this union will stay at Newlands."

He said that doesn't mean in a few years, at the end of the process, the clubs will not reconsider that decision.

By Jan de Koning