Should the Lions ditch Ellis Park? 'Nothing more depressing than sea of red, empty seats'

Despite South African crowd attendance leading the way in this season's URC, the Lions and Ellis Park have struggled to attract a meaningful number of bums on seats. As a result, the debate over whether the franchise should still play all its matches at the iconic, 62 500-capacity stadium has been reignited. But lifelong Lions fan and News24 Sport reader, Andries Combrinck, believes it need not become a relic of the past.  

Last week, Lions CEO Rudolf Straeuli had to field questions from the media over the franchise's future at Ellis Park.

I can't say I was surprised at all that the topic reared its head again.

Since purchasing my first season ticket back in 2007 and clinging to my premium seat close to the famed players' tunnel on the west stand for the past 12 years - a testament, I hope, to my lifelong love for this team - the issue of the Lions moving away from Ellis Park has been debated.

Much of that revolves around the poor attendance figures and this season's biggest crowd for a United Rugby Championship outing has been a measly 12 000. 

The stadium itself remains iconic, of that there's no doubt, but the fly in the ointment is the fan experience around its precinct.

I've supported the Lions since 1993, when my equally passionate late father introduced me to Kitch Christie and Francois Pienaar's magnificent team that swept everything before them - the Super 10 title, the Lion Cup, the M-Net Night Series and Currie Cup.

My love for this team has taken me to Currie Cup finals in Bloemfontein and Cape Town.

I'll never forget waving my Lions flag in the cold of late winter Tokyo while watching Johan Ackermann's charges play their first Super Rugby match against the Sunwolves in 2016, and I had the privilege of touring with