“THE NEWLANDS EXPERIENCE”: OPENING OF A NEW EXHIBITION AND MEETING SPACE AT NEWLANDS CRICKET GROUND

January 2024

NEWLANDS – The first phase of a new exhibition on the history of Newlands and Western Province cricket was opened during the TEA time on DAY 1 of the New Year’s Test match between South Africa and India on Wednesday, 3 January 2024.

Situated in the “Newlands Experience” space on the ground -floor of the new development – which also includes tenants such as Varsity College and other tenants.

The first phase of the exhibition includes an illustrated timeline of the iconic stadium, covering more than 150 years.

Ten portable panels touch on developments such as the growth of women’s cricket, the recent ICC Women’s T20 World Cup and Newlands as the new home ground for Betway SA20 franchise, MI Cape Town.

Filmed interviews with current and former players, the streaming of past and present cricket action at the stadium and digital honours’ boards are planned for phase two.

This exhibition was compiled as a voluntary contribution to the Western Province Cricket Association by historian and former CEO, Professor Andre Odendaal.

Mr Ebrahim Ganief from the Scan Shop digitized images on a gratis basis as well.

The design and production teams were headed by Greg Robb of Atomi and Donovan Pugh of Elephant Design.

Entrance to the exhibition was free during the Test match.

The Newlands Experience space will from now on also be available for parties wishing to host corporate, sports and community events.

WPCA President, Johannes Adams commented: “Newlands Cricket Ground is synonymous with Cricket and Legacy,” he said.

“Newlands hosted its first test match in the same decade as the first Tests at the Oval and Lords in London and is recognized worldwide as one of the great stadiums in cricket. We wish to make the new Newlands Experience space part of the soul of a transformed and re-developed 21st century Western Province and Newlands.”