Tours in Cape Town

The old Green point Stadium

Cape Town’s preparations for the world cup began way back in 2006 when SA won the bid to host the 2010 world cup.

The goals the Western Cape and Cape Town set were simple, yet difficult to achieve.

Goal one: To host an outstanding 2010 FIFA World Cup

Goal two: To use the 2010 Fifa world cup to build infrastructural, social, environmental and economic legacies that will benefit the people of the Western Cape long after the tournament.

Goal three: To leverage the event to market the province, the country and the continent for tourism, trade and investmen

We are now less than 100 days from the kickoff so it might be an idea to have a quick look at what we have achieved.

Breaking ground for the new stadium

Our stadium at the time of starting its construction in March 2007 was known as the new Green Point Stadium. This name has been changed and the stadium will in future be known as the Cape Town Stadium.

Some of the trees that were removed

Land that had been put aside for public use and which was being used by the Metropolitan Golf course at the time was rezoned after some major arguments and delaying tactics by residents and interested parties and eventually the go ahead was given to start with the construction.

At the time two things happened simultaneously. With few people knowing what was going on contractors moved in and started breaking down the old Green Point stadium much to the annoyance of the public.

At the same time the eastern side of the Metropolitan golf course was taken over and the ground leveled. Shortly afterwards the trenches for the foundations were dug and the first concrete was poured.

Things have not always gone smoothly, what with strikes and walkoffs by workers demanding more pay, transport from Cape Town station to the stadium and a whole lot more.

Everybody involved in the project was fearful that it would not be completed especially when original estimates of the cost blossomed out to a total of R2.47 billion, more than double of the original estimated cost.

The construction work on the stadium was completed and handed over to the City of Cape Town in November 2009.

The next step in the life of the new stadium was to test its resources, security and parking facilities and also the new surrounding infrastructure.

To do this a number of events were planned.

The first event happened on the 23rd of January 2010 when a crowd of 20000 football fans entered the stadium to watch a local derby football match. Most people did not attend the event to watch the football but went to get a feel for and a look at the inside of the new stadium which had basically been kept a secret from us locals.

Yes there was the odd picture of the inside of the stadium in the newspapers but as there was a danger to the public during the construction and especially when the roof was being installed people were not allowed into the stadium. Only a lucky few were allowed in. Not even the public who had to pay for a tour were allowed in.

The long wait was worth the frustration it caused as most people who attended the event were thrilled with what they saw. It’s not everyday that one can say that they had attended an inaugural match and the official opening of a new stadium, especially one with the importance that the Cape Town Stadium has.

The first event at the stadium went off well although there were some hitches with parking and parking tickets.

The second event held in the stadium was on the 8th February 2010 when a rugby festival with a 10 a side rugby match featuring some of the retired rugby players of yesteryear was played. The main match of the day between the Stormers and the Boland was enjoyed by the crowd but not necessarily by the Boland who got a good hiding.

There were two things being tested at this event. The pitch and whether it would withstand the hammering caused by two rugby teams scrumming on its newly laid turf. The second aspect was to see whether the stadium could handle a 40000 strong crowd.

There were one or two hitches but overall things went smoothly with the pitch standing up well to the rugby event.

The third test of the stadium will happen this week when an estimated audience of 60000 people will pitch up and give the stadium its final test. At this event all three tiers of the stadium will be opened to the public.

I don’t think there will be any major problems at the stadium itself but there might be some problems with parking and getting all 60000 people to the stadium.

Parking at the stadium is limited so parking for any event will be pushed into the streets of Cape Town and under the freeways at the bottom end of the foreshore.

An exclusion zone limiting or blocking traffic around the stadium will be enforced from the 20th May 2010 till the 16th July 2010 when the world cup will have ended. This could prove painful to residents of the Green Point area as they might not be able to get home on match days.

At this stage of Cape Town’s preparations everyone is happy that the stadium has been completed on time to host the world cup in June.

Another feather in the cap of Cape Town Stadium is that it is fully booked for all its world cup matches where other stadiums around the country are still trying to fill theirs.

Roll on June!

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