Despite opening their 2023-24 European Challenge Cup campaign with a victory over Perpignan, the Lions returned home to host Newcastle Falcons in front of an almost empty Ellis Park, reigniting calls for the team to move to a smaller stadium in a safer neighbourhood, and SARugbymag.co.za columnist Simon Borchardt argues a move couldn’t come soon enough.

Borchardt pointed out the reasons fans skipped the rugby, including the stadium’s location in Doornfontein – “a dirty, crumbling, crime-ridden suburb of downtown Joburg right next to Hillbrow.”

X users echoed these sentiments when Borchardt took to X during the Challenge Cup match, posting: “These Ellis Park ‘crowds’ are beyond embarrassing. Surely time for the Lions to move to a smaller stadium in a safer area.”

These Ellis Park ‘crowds’ are beyond embarrassing. Surely time for the Lions to move to a smaller stadium in a safer area. https://t.co/xMRKIYUhin

— Simon Borchardt (@SimonBorchardt) December 16, 2023

More than 50 replies agreed that the reason so few are willing to attend matches is because they fear for their safety, with some even arguing the Lions should have left Ellis Park behind long ago.

However, matches at the venue were well attended when the Lions emerged as perennial Super Rugby contenders under Johan Ackermann.

Factors:

It was raining.
The Lions aren’t winning.

When the Lions were winning around 2016-2018 the stadium was much fuller. Consider the Super Rugby final against the Crusaders in 2017 was sold out.

Nothing to do with the area or safety.

— Jacques Du Bruyn (@jndub) December 17, 2023

Is it time for the Lions to move on, or will a winning Lions team bring the crowds back to Ellis Park?

Click here to vote in the poll.