PIET GREYLING (rugby): Is it important how one feels if someone puts in that much money to have his name on it? I don’t have a helluva view I liked the old names but things have changed. To be honest I don’t know what Loftus is called any more. As you get older all that sticks in your mind is what it was called.
DANIE GERBER (rugby): It’s a professional era so they’ll sell anything now. Of course the unions need the money because players aren’t cheap. The more money they can get in the better it is for the players and the unions themselves, and they can keep the spectators happy. I’d like to see an element of the old names kept, though, because I grew up with Kings Park and Newlands and Loftus Versfeld. If I went to Cape Town as a player I’d like to be able to say “I’m going to Newlands” because all over the world people talk about Newlands and Loftus Versfeld.
WYNAND CLAASSEN (rugby): I understand the commercial needs, but I’m not too much in favour of it. It’s a professional sport now but we should retain some of the traditions of the game. The people on the ground still talk of Kings Park.
GRAEME POLLOCK (cricket): If it’s a financial reason then I’m sure they had grounds to make those decisions. I think it’s nice to be nostalgic and remember the past but you have to move with the times. Money helps everybody and if it leads to a better-run operation and provides funds for development then you have to take it. That’s the stadium and that’s where it happened, so there’s no change in that. What you call it doesn’t really matter.
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