| WC stadiums not white elephants: Petersen – 06/12/2010 |
Stadiums erected for the 2010 Fifa World Cup will not become white elephants, said sport and recreation director general Vernie Petersen. ’We have reflected at some of the challenges and not only the issue of so-called notion of white elephants, but importantly we will have to make sure that our people continue to access and use these facilities,’ he said at a briefing in Johannesburg. The Times reports that the department of sport and recreation would have to improve its efficiency on encouraging mass participation in events if it was to ensure stadiums were used by communities
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Full report in The Times
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| World Cup stadiums are cash cows – 29/11/2010 |
Danny Jordaan says South African soccer is missing out on a golden opportunity to generate income from World Cup venues. He says authorities must create conditions under which stadiums can generate daily revenue. He cited Soccer City’s failure to capitalise on the Spanish tourists who flock to the site where Andres Iniesta’s solitary strike secured Spain’s maiden World Cup triumph. ’Why don’t we sell them a Spain or a Bafana jersey, a tiny piece of the pitch, a meal, the 2010 World Cup memorabilia?’
He called on municipalities to change regulations to create a more commercial environment at the cauldrons built for the World Cup.
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Full Sunday Times report
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| World Cup venues still works in progress – 29/11/2010 |
Municipalities and companies managing World Cup stadiums have been scrambling for money to prevent the venues from becoming white elephants. Concern has been expressed that some World Cup stadiums are running the risk of being bulldozed - the fate of stadiums in Korea and Japan after the 2002 World Cup. However, at least three of the stadiums have attracted substantial business. Access Facilities and Leisure Management, the company contracted to manage the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth has been working around the clock to ensure that the stadium generates revenue.
Stephan Pretorius, CEO of the company, says the Southern Kings and Eastern Province Kings rugby teams have a number of matches lined up.
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Full Sunday Times report
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| World Cup stadium name issue in SCA - 25/11/2010 |
The rights First National Bank had regarding the FNB Stadium in Soweto were removed with its demolition to build the new stadium for the 2010 Fifa World Cup, the Supreme Court of Appeal was told yesterday, according to a report on the Moneyweb site. Legal counsel for Stadium Management SA (SMSA) Fanie du Plessis said an agreement in 2007 put no obligation on the management of the soccer complex – referred to as Soccer City during the World Cup – to put FNB’s name on tickets or programmes. SMSA was appointed by the City of Johannesburg to manage the stadium in Soweto. The appeal follows a decision by the High Court that Soccer City would go back to its old name, FNB Stadium, in August this year.
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Full report on the Moneyweb site
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| Mbombela’s future secured – 23/11/2010 |
Bombela municipality mayor Lassy Chiwayo has described the use of Mbombela Stadium by Mpumalanga Black Aces as one of the 2010 World Cup legacy projects. The Sowetan reports that AmaZayoni have decided to play all their high-profile matches at the iconic stadium, which was used as one of the venues for the World Cup. Aces are following in the footsteps of Bidvest Wits, who played a match at Mbombela two weeks ago, in which they beat Mamelodi Sundowns 1-0.
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Full report in The Sowetan
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| WC stadium name dispute – appeal papers filed |
Stadium Management SA (SMSA), the company appointed to manage the R3.4bn soccer stadium in Soweto, has filed court papers appealing the South Gauteng High Court’s ruling that the arena revert to its original name, FNB Stadium. The Star reports the verdict came after banking group FirstRand lodged court papers against SMSA for renaming the venue the National Stadium after the World Cup.
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Full report in The Star
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| Will Soccer City revert back to FNB Stadium? – 04/11/2010 |
The legal wrangle over the naming rights of South Africa’s iconic stadium, Soccer City, will hopefully come to an end in a week’s time when the appeal by FNB goes to court. The Times reports that with the date set for the 23 November to appeal the naming rights of South Africa’s flagship stadium, hope is alive to revert back to the globally recognised ’Soccer City’ name. The country’s iconic stadium, received global recognition during the FIFA 2010 World Cup Soccer Tournament hosted in South Africa.
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Full report in The Times Times
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| WC stadium name dispute goes to SCA - 29/10/2010 |
The SCA is to hear the dispute about the name of the Soweto stadium that hosted the World Cup final – is it the FNB Stadium or Soccer City – next month, according to a Volksblad report. National Stadium South Africa and the Johannesburg City Council are appealing against a South Gauteng High Court ruling that the stadium should be called the FNB Stadium in terms of an earlier agreement between the bank and the government when it was built. SCA Judge President Lex Mpati directed that the matter should heard on 23 November. The parties must file their heads of argument in the next two weeks.
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Full Volksblad report
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| CT stadium not a white elephant – Plato – 28/10/2010 |
There has been an ongoing public debate about the future of Cape Town Stadium, since the announcement that the operator and the City of Cape Town agreed to part ways. Poltics Web reports that it is a challenge, but not an unexpected one. Worldwide, many cities have taken time to find sustainable ways to manage and maintain facilities built for events such as the FIFA World Cup. The trick is to make it work, sustainably. This will take time, and it will take effort.
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Full Politics Web report
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| CT Stadium under the spotlight – 15/10/2010 |
The dreaded white elephant once again casts its shadow over Cape Town. The much opposed, Cape Town Stadium, is now walking a large and expensive tight rope between WE status and an iconic asset to the city. Sail Stadefrance was confident and bluster when it supposedly signed the contract or agreed to manage the stadium but it jumped ship without setting sail, leaving a massive world class stadium and an even more massive headache to the city, suggesting that it can’t make it work.
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Full Real Estate report Real
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| State addresses stadium sustainability – 15/10/2010 |
The department of sport and recreation is reviewing the future sustainability of stadiums that were built for the 2010 World Cup, and together with the Development Bank of Southern Africa is consolidating and reviewing the future plans of the host cities. In a written reply to the ANC chair of the sport and recreation committee, Butana Komphela, Minister Makhenkesi Stofile said the review was imperative since the plans were drawn up before the development of stadium designs and there have been changes that could have positive or adverse effects on them.
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Full Fin24.com report Fin24
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| ’Demolish CT stadium’ – 10/10/2010 |
Amid concerns of Cape Town Stadium’s financial viability a local demolition company has suggested it would be cheaper to tear it down. The City of Cape Town announced this week that it would be taking over the reins after management company SAIL/Stade de France pulled out, notes a report on the iafrica.com site. The 55 000 seater venue was built for the 2010 World Cup at a cost of R4.4-billion. Ross Demolition CEO Robb Ross said bringing in the bulldozers would be the best option.
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Full report on the iafrica.com site
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| Rugby ruled out at WC stadium – 10/10/2010 |
No rugby matches will be played at the Cape Town Stadium.
That is the latest bad news for the Cape Town city council after it came to light that the SAIL Stadefrance Operating Company (SSOC) had pulled out of its proposed long-term lease agreement before it even came into effect, claiming it was too expensive to continue. The Western Province Rugby Union on Thursday said it would not be prepared to move any game – be it provincial match or a Test clash – to the R4.5 billion stadium.
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Full Sport24 report
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| 80% of stadiums fine, says Jordaan – 07/10/2010% |
South Africa does not plan to demolish any of its World Cup stadiums nor will any of them turn into neglected ’white elephants’, Danny Jordaan, said the chief executive of the 2010 tournament. Sport24 reports that Jordaan, speaking at the ’Leaders In Football’ business conference at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge ground, said that of the 10 stadiums which staged matches during the World Cup, eight were expected to flourish by being used for soccer and rugby.
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Full Sport24 report Sport24
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| Ajax suffer CT Stadium Stadium loss – 21/09/2010
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Ajax CEO George Comitis has revealed his side are unlikely to host matches at the Cape Town Stadium in future. Sport24 reports that the Parow-based outfit suffered a loss in revenue of around R300 000 after their 2-1 win over Platinum Stars at the World Cup stadium on Saturday. The Urban Warriors were aiming for a crowd of around 14 000 in order to make a profit from the tie, however they only managed half of that.
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Full Sport24 report
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| Bafana friendly for the Cape? – 24/08/2010 |
SAFA and Cape Town Stadium operator SAIL/Stadefrance are on the verge of concluding a deal that could see Bafana Bafana play their first international friendly at the stadium. Earlier, SAFA said bringing Bafana Bafana to Cape Town was virtually impossible because it was too expensive, notes a report on the IoL site. But SAFA CE Leslie Sedibe said an announcement was imminent. He said SAFA was negotiating with SAIL/Stadefrance for a possible fixture before the end of the year. SAFA has been inundated with requests for the national team to play in Cape Town after the World Cup.
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Full report on the IoL site on
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| Stadia likely to stand empty – 21/08/2010 |
The chickens of the World Cup have come home to roost. With the exception of the FNB Stadium (Soccer City) in Soweto, cash-strapped municipalities who own the multimillion-rand stadiums built for the World Cup face imminent disaster as the structures look set to become redundant. The Star notes that both SA Rugby and Cricket SA have explained to Parliament their reasons why it was not possible for them to move rugby and cricket matches to the new stadiums, saying the discussions of this week should have been held before the stadiums were built.
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Full report in The Star
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| CT sponsors double-header – 20/08/2010 |
After a week of debating and unhappiness, the council has finally agreed to sponsor next week’s double-header soccer game at Cape Town Stadium, albeit at a reduced price, notes a Cape Times report. And soccer fans can expect a spike in ticket prices in the future, to sustain the stadium as the city looks for more ways to improve its income from ticket sales. Earlier, several mayoral committee (mayco) members voiced their disapproval at the spending of R1.8 million on hosting a PSL double-header next week. At a follow-up meeting, the committee agreed to pay a smaller amount of R1.4m for the game.
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Full Cape Times Times report
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| Union bosses shuns WC stadia – 19/08/2010 |
South Africa’s 2010 World Cup stadiums are hunting for new business - even professional wrestling - but the country’s most lucrative sports say they were sidelined long before kick-off. According to a report on the IoL site, the showcase Soccer City, now rebranded as FNB Stadium, will host a sold-out Springboks-All Blacks rugby Test on Saturday. The other nine stadiums are looking for similar opportunities. But failure by organisers to bring rugby and cricket on board ahead of the tournament has raised questions on future uses of some stadiums in the scramble to meet massive running costs.
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Full report on the IoL site
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| Boks banking on Soweto magic – 18/08/2010 |
The FNB Stadium needs to give the Springboks the same ’woema’ it gave off during the 2010 World Cup. Sport24 reports that Saturday is the 81st Test between the Springboks and All Blacks, but the first in Soweto. It will be the first rugby Test in the massive stadium where the opening game and the final of the 2010 World Cup were played. Springbok wing JP Pietersen cannot wait to run out in the huge sporting mecca. ’It’s noticeable how much the stadium contributed to the success of the 2010 World Cup. We hope that it will do the same for us against the All Blacks,’ said Pietersen.
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Full Sport24 report
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| No cricket at WC stadia – 18/08/2010 |
South Africa will not be able to host a major international cricket tournament at the newly constructed World Cup stadia, Cricket South Africa told Parliament on Tuesday. CSA chief executive Gerald Majola told the portfolio committee on sport the pitches of the World Cup stadiums were too small for cricket and that only the Moses Mabhida stadium had the potential to host a cricket game.
Sport24 reports that Majola said this was caused by the failure to consult cricket authorities on the size of pitches before the construction of the World Cup soccer stadia.
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Full Sport24 report
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| ’Soccer City’ managers could appeal name - 13/08/2010 |
The management of ’Soccer City’ is still deciding whether to appeal a High Court ruling that it revert to its pre-World Cup name FNB stadium, said Stadium Management SA chief executive Jacques Grobbelaar. ’Stadium Management SA will engage its principals, stakeholders and clients and also hopes to engage FNB before making a decision on whether to appeal to ensure that the best decision is made for the stadium and the sporting public.’ FNB stadium, which was owned by FNB, was completed in 1988, notes a report on the IoL site. As part of preparations for the 2010 World Cup, FNB gave up its ownership of the stadium and transferred it to the City of Johannesburg.
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Full report on the IoL site
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| WC stadiums ’too big’ - 13/08/2010 |
South Africa’s World Cup stadiums are considered ’too big’ to stage MTN8 Cup matches, fueling fears the venues could become ’white elephants’. Sport24 reports that the tournament, which features the top-eight finishers from last season, kicks off next Friday and notably no games are scheduled for the 10 arenas that staged the recent World Cup.
PSL chief, Kjetil Siem, admits this is because the domestic competition cannot attract large enough crowds.
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Full Sport24 report
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| Judge lashes Joburg on FNB naming rights – 12/08/2010 |
A Joburg judge has lashed out at the City of Johannesburg for bungling the Soccer City Stadium naming rights, notes a report on the IoL site. Judge Margaret Victor ruled in the Johannesburg High Court that the iconic R3.8 billion stadium must revert to its original name of FNB Stadium until 2014 at least. But, as the judge upheld an urgent application by the FirstRand to interdict National Stadium Management (NSM), the company appointed to manage the stadium, from renaming the iconic venue National Stadium, she had harsh words for CoJ, who are the stadium owners.
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Full report on the IoL site
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| Soccer City to remain FNB Stadium – 11/08/2010 |
Soccer City will continue to be called the FNB Stadium, the High Court in Johannesburg has ruled. The Times reports that the court upheld the bank’s naming rights, First National Bank spokesman Derek Carstens said in a statement. ’The bank is pleased with this outcome and will continue with its promotional and other programmes bearing the name FNB Stadium.’ The financial institution had taken National Stadiums, which manages Soccer City, to court to prevent it from changing the name of the stadium, outside Soweto in Johannesburg.
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Full report in The Times
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| Battle over name of Soccer City postponed – 05/08/2010 |
The battle between FNB and National Stadiums over what the name of Soccer City was postponed in the South Gauteng High Court yesterday, says a report in The Witness. FNB is attempting to prevent National Stadiums, which manages Soccer City, from changing its name. ’The name of the stadium is ’FNB Stadium’ and we are asking they refer to it as that,’ said FNB lawyer PF Louw. However, National Stadiums lawyer Fanie du Plessis argued that while the stadium was called ’FNB Stadium’, it was not obliged to promote the venue as such. The report says the stadium is owned by the City of Johannesburg. The city’s lawyer, Tjaart van der Walt, said they were contractually obliged to post signage around the stadium referring to it as ’FNB Stadium’. Beyond that, the name could be changed for promotional materials and tickets.
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Full report in The Witness
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| R30m to maintain Soccer City – 04/08/2010 |
The new 90 000-seater Soccer City built for the 2010 World Cup finals, will cost between R25 and R30 million per year to maintain, notes a Sports24 report. But that will not be a problem, according to Barry Pollen, a director of National Stadium Management SA (Pty) Limited, the company who will manage the stadium. A subsidiary of National Stadiums, Stadium Management SA, have the contract to manage Orlando Stadium, Dobsonville and the Rand Stadiums. There are fears that some - if not all - of the new purpose build stadiums for the recent 2010 World Cup would become white elephants.
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Full Sport24 reportsFull Sport24 Sport24 reports
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| PSL looks to benefit from WC legacy - 02/08/2010 |
The Premier Soccer League (PSL) will engage municipalities and clubs to ensure 2010 World Cup venues do not become white elephants, chairperson Irvin Khoza has confirmed. The Sowetan reports that this comes after concerns that some facilities used during the World Cup, including Soccer City, have been snubbed by premiership clubs. Orlando Pirates will continue using the rebuilt Orlando Stadium as their home ground, while Kaizer Chiefs will use the refurbished Rand Stadium. Mamelodi Sundowns are going back to HM Pitje Stadium in Mamelodi, while Ajax Cape Town will use the Cape Town Stadium.
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Full report in The Sowetan in
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| Lions’ boss weighs up move to Soccer City - 01/08/2010 |
The Golden Lions are strongly considering moving from Ellis Park to Soccer City. Union president Kevin de Klerk confirmed this was being discussed, but was careful not to appear too bullish, notes a report in the Times. ’We have quite a road to walk in this process,’ he said. He added that although various factors needed consideration (such as a sentimental attachment to the venue of the 1995 Rugby World Cup final), he hoped a decision would be reached sooner rather than later.
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Full report in The Timesreport
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| High Court set to rule on Soccer City – 26/07/2010 |
The High Court in Johannesburg will rule next month on whether the iconic World Cup final stadium, Soccer City, would be renamed the FNB Stadium or National Stadium. Sport24 reports that FNB, who held the sponsoring rights before the FIFA World Cup, applied for a court interdict against the changing of the name to National Stadium. This was after current management decided to officially rename the stadium to National Stadium at the Springbok rugby team’s Tri Nations Test against the All Blacks there on August 21.
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Full Sport24 report
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