Basin name change a desperate move
Did you hear about the name change for Wellington’s Westpac Stadium? Something along the lines of ‘men’s sport is superior’.
There’s also word they are thinking of having a ‘men’s only stand’ and changing the seats to a gender specific navy blue.
Imagine how outrageous that made-up scenario would be and how it would anger many of us, male and female. Because placing a clear line between men and women is the very last thing we need in Kiwi sport.
There is, however, a proposal to change the Basin Reserve’s name to ‘‘Support Women’s Sport Basin Reserve’’.
A $100,000 fundraising drive has kicked off to secure the naming rights for the Basin Reserve for two years, led by the Women in Sport Leadership Academy.
This project, and PledgeMe fund, was created to increase support for New Zealand’s female athletes, gain better media coverage and to tackle inequalities in the value of women’s sport in New Zealand.
This is a fantastic cause and the proposed name change has caught the attention of the sport community, although predominantly for the wrong reasons.
There is a lot wrong with this particular name. Let’s steer clear of how very unimaginative it is – but did they get someone from finance to write it?
The biggest concern, however, is this name excludes about 50 per cent of our population. It also riles the Kiwi cricket community, no doubt.
New Zealand has come a long way in just two years in the way we
cover women’s sport in the media. No, we are not there yet and we certainly have to keep progressing.
Women’s sport is often lost on the sports pages, it can get buried deep on websites some days too. If a Black Fern reaches 50 tests, she will still be outclassed in readership by a Beauden Barrett Instagram of his two adorable Schnauzer dogs on Wellington’s waterfront.
That’s not great for a sportloving nation, but it is exactly how it works, right now.
Olympian Sarah Cowley-Ross is one of those behind the name change. She wanted the project to stir up debate around the disparities between men’s and women’s sport.
Well, mission accomplished. This long-winded name has created quite the furore and women’s sport has made the news for reasons other than being the wife of Israel Folau – Maria Folau happens to also be one of our best-ever Silver Ferns.
Cowley-Ross this week said only 10 per cent of media coverage was dedicated to women in sport; female athletes are more likely to be photographed with a partner or coach; and there is usually more focus on an athlete’s life, rather than their athletic ability.
I heard these statistics two years ago and they are now outdated.
Sports journalists, male and female, are trying to change the way we cover women’s sport. We only need to refer back to the women’s Football World Cup coverage, Black Ferns coverage, Silver Ferns coverage, White Ferns coverage etc, to see that we are all trying to improve.
But it takes time and patience to change a traditionally male space. Do we have that patience?
Wellington Cricket supports the name change and has raved how this is a progressive move for equality. How will it justify that way of thinking when it tells the Wellington Blaze women’s side they aren’t on the same wicket as their male counterparts, the Wellington Firebirds.
Women’s sport can catch the nation’s attention without becoming so desperate. This name change is the equivalent of getting on two knees and begging male sport enthusiasts to pretty please watch our sport too. It is a drastic measure and one that will divide.
A ‘‘Support Women’s Sport Basin Reserve’’ for New Zealand’s home of cricket is only going to create a larger void between men and women’s sport than there already is.
Have they also considered the fact most media outlets omit sponsor names from teams and venues – when was the last time you heard the media refer to the AIG All Blacks?
I support women’s sport. I support men’s sport, too.
I also fell in love with test match cricket 12 years ago when I sat in on five days at the Basin Reserve in the wind to watch the Black Caps lose to England. I loved every part of that week – from the burnt orange English fans who never wear enough sunblock, to the green terraces covered in blankets and cricket fans from all over the country.
The Basin Reserve sits plumb in the middle of a busy roundabout, a state highway, which is so inconveniently beautiful. Those in the capital cannot avoid the fact it is test match day, whether you love the game or not.
The Basin Reserve name is just as iconic.
The ‘Support Women’s Sport’ risks its exact cause. A name change like this could deter cricket fans and male support away from Kiwi women’s sport. And that would undo the good we’ve already done.