Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
SOCCER world body Fifa has officially announced Port Elizabeth as a host city for the 2010 World Cup, and the news multi-purpose stadium will be constructed at the Prince Alfred Park on the banks of the North End Lake.
Progress
By November 2006 they had demolished the old Parks Rugby structures and were busy with the earthworks (digging for the foundations and working on the drainage).
(Image: South Africa 2010 Local Organising Committee)
2010 matches
The stadium is earmarked to host 5 first-round matches, 1 second-round, 1 quarter-final, and the third-place playoff.
Why the North End?
The decision to site the city’s proposed R750-million stadium in North End was informed by the fact that it would cost much less to develop transport infrastructure there than elsewhere, according to the municipality.
Photos of Prince Alfred Park
Carrying Capacity
The stadium has a planned carrying capacity of 50 000.
Timeline
Construction is due to begin in January 2007 and it is projected that the stadium will be completed by December, 2008; and handed over to Fifa at the end of 2009. A sod-turning ceremony was held at the stadium on the 8th September 2006.
Cost
On the 18th June 2006, the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality revealed that it would receive more than R80-million in funding from the Development Bank of Southern Africa as part of its preparations for the building of the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. It is estimated the stadium will cost R1.1 billion.
Nelson Mandela Bay
Nelson Mandela Bay incorporates the towns Port Elizabeth, Uitenhage and Despatch. Port Elizabeth has many aliases, PE, Die Baai (Afrikaans), the Friendly City (though there's no reason to believe it's any friendlier than other South African cities), and Ibhayi (isiXhosa).
Accommodation
Nelson Mandela Bay needs 29 000 upmarket hotel beds for the 2010 Fifa World Cup (by September 2006 it had 11 500 upmarket hotel beds).
Road network developments.
The municipality is attempting to develop a plan for a sustainable transport system before the World Cup, to handle the expected extra volumes.
Khulani corridor
The Khulani corridor links the main arterial roads in KwaZakhele and New Brighton to the city centre via Korsten. The idea is to link the industrial & commercial zones of Korsten and Sydenham with the townships and the city centre; resulting in access to the stadium being made easier.
Mendi and Njoli roads |
Mendi and Njoli roads have already (June 2006) been upgraded as the first phase of the corridor. |
Korsten interchange |
(R6-million) |
Njoli interchange |
(R1,5-million) |
Lighting and shelters |
Lighting and shelters along the corridor (R900 000). |
Diaz Road |
Upgrading of Diaz Road (R2,9-million). Lukhozi Consulting Engineers regional manager Owen Wentzel said the company was appointedin May 2006 to construct a new stretch of road to ease congestion in Harrower Road, near where the stadium would be built. Diaz Road between Kipling Street and CJ Langehoven Drive would be extended by about a kilometre. Wentzel said the road was expected to be complete by next March. An environmental assessment study on the impact of the new stretch of road was expected to be completed by June. He said national government had allocated R9.5 million towards the project. About 25 000m² of rock would be removed in CJ Langehoven Drive by blasting and a 9.5m-wide road with a painted island constructed. |
Kempston Road |
Rehabilitation of Kempston Road (R900 000). |
Perl Road |
Rehabilitation of Perl Road (R1,8- million). |
Pavements |
Construction of pavements along the corridor (R1,65-million). |
Traffic management |
Provision of traffic signals, speed humps, cameras and other traffic management matters (R1,36-million). |
Buses |
Purchase of low-floor buses (R900 000). |
Concaf Cup
In August 2006 Danny Jordaan said that it was important that the stadium and other facilities were completed by December 2008, in order for Port Elizabeth to qualify for Concacaf Cup matches.
What happens to the old Boet Erasmus Stadium?
There's no official decision on when the Boet Erasmus Stadium will be demolished, but rumour has it that it will be around until at least 2010 after the World Cup.
Sepp Blatter receives honouray doctorate
On 24 April 2006 Sepp Blatter, the FIFA president, received an honorary doctorate in philosophy from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth. This was not Blatter's first honourary doctorate, and said the following about it: “It is my first doctorate in Africa, and it is very special that I receive it in the city of Nelson Mandela and the home town of Danny Jordaan. It’s an emotional moment. I am just overwhelmed. This is my first visit to the city, but not the last.” Mr Blatter promised to return to Nelson Mandela Bay on a longer visit.
East London wants to host a soccer team
Local newspapers
Dispatch |
The Herald |
References
14 Sept 2006 |
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29 August 2006 |
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7 August 2006 |
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27 July 2006 |
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