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Cape Town - Newlands Cricket Ground is reportedly set to undergo a R450m makeover.
According to the Cape Argus, construction is expected to start in March and will include a five-storey office building, auditorium, an indoor cricket centre, a school, museum, shops, restaurants and parking garages to make it more commercially sustainable. Spectator capacity will be unchanged.
Nabeal Dien, CEO of the Western Province Cricket Association (WPCA), said commercialising the precinct would improve the performance of the stadium as a world-class cricket venue and ensure its long-term viability.
Dien said their vision is to “create sustainability for the stadium and cricket”.
Reports of the proposed changes at Newlands surfaced last year, when it was reported that only 39 of the 114 corporate boxes at Newlands were in use.
Newlands is regarded as one of the most beautiful cricket grounds in the world, being overlooked by Table Mountain and Devil's Peak.
The ground hosted its first Test match on March 24, 1889 when England defeated South Africa by an innings and 202 runs.
The first One Day International played at the ground was on December 7, 1992 when South Africa beat India by 6 wickets.
Between 1991 and 1997 numerous changes were made to the ground. Large portions of the grass embankments were replaced by pavilions increasing the seating capacity to 25 000.
