Soccerex 2007: Cape Town Announces Bidding Process for Naming Rights and Operator for Green Point Stadium

The City of Cape Town has announced that it will sell the naming rights of its 68 000 seater, multi-purpose world-class stadium on Green Point Common to national or international bidders.

It has also started an international process to find the best long-term operator for the stadium with world-famous Table Mountain as a backdrop after the World Cup 2010 event. The processes will start formally with international Requests for Proposals at the beginning of 2008.

The news, released from its stand at the Soccerex 2007 International Soccer Expo in the Sandton Convention Centre, follows FIFA's weekend announcement that Cape Town is the preferred bidder for the World Cup 2010 Final Draw in December 2009, six months ahead of the global event.

Bidders for naming rights and the operator contract will have to meet specific requirements. The naming rights process will start on 15 January 2008 when tender documents will be made available on the City of Cape Town's website www.capetown.gov.za or the City's Tender Office. The City would be looking for a marketing agency to facilitate the bid.

In the case of the operator proposal, the City is looking for a consortium with the skills and experience needed to operate such a facility successfully. Documentation for the operator will be available from 18 February 2008. The City hopes to finalise the appointment of the operator by June 2008, subject to how much time and effort negotiations will take.

According to Deputy Mayor Grant Haskin, Cape Town is confident that the lively interest shown at the international expo will translate into positive results.

"This stadium has the finest visual setting in South Africa and is close to the heart of downtown Cape Town, the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, the Cape Town International Convention Centre and within walking distance of some of the finest hotels, restaurants, entertainment and business facilities. Green Point stadium has a splendid view of Table Mountain, Robben Island, Table Bay, the Boland mountain ranges and the City Bowl," Haskin said.

The Green Point Stadium will host more matches than any other single South African stadium, namely nine which includes a semi-final. The multi-purpose stadium, suitable for football and rugby, music concerts and major events will have 55 000 seats after 2010. Some 13 000 seats needed for the World Cup semi-final will be replaced to create more usable facility space. The stadium is set in 85 hectares of green space to be developed as a sport and recreation precinct.

Walkways will link the Green Point Park and stadium precinct to the Atlantic Ocean walkways, the historical Mouille Point lighthouse and the booming Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, the most successful development in Africa.

Stadium construction is on track for an official FIFA inspection by October 2009 and final completion by 15 December 2009. The tender for the high-tech roof worth 430 million South African Rand has just been awarded to an American German consortium, Birdair Pfeifer.

Issued by:

Directorate: Communication
City of Cape Town
Tel: 021 400 2201

Media Queries:

Pieter Cronjé
Director: Communication
Cell: 082 465 4965