World Cup South Africa Stadium Guide - Cape Town Stadium - Cape Town

With a number of impressive stadia having been built in South Africa, we look at the stadium, which is set to host a World Cup semi-final in Cape Town.

City: Cape Town
Surface: Grass
Capacity: 68 000

One of the most beautiful cities in South Africa provides an equally magnificent stadium ahead of the World Cup to be held in the country next year, and the Cape Town Stadium will be one of the major venues for the 2010 spectacular, hosting a number of matches including a semi-final showdown.

The stadium has been built on the edge of the city centre and behind the famous V&A Waterfront, allowing easy access from the inner city, while placed only a few hundred metres away from the coastline.



The precinct, known as Green Point has hosted many athletic and other sporting events, which includes horse racing. The area surrounding the stadium is one of the most popular in the city, and the great 68 000 seat venue will only add to the area’s allure.

Cape Town Stadium Has Changed Green Point Forever

 

175-CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA -2010,General view-Green Point Stadium

The incredible sight of the Cape Town stadium has forever changed the surrounding Green Point Common. Enwrapped by a façade of woven fibreglass, coated with teflon, it resembles a rose-coloured bowl floating on a base, when lit up at night. The architects have dubbed the stadium “the Diva of Cape Town”, reflecting the constantly changing moods of the city in varying weather conditions.

The design and construction of the roof is unique throughout the world. Its basic structure resembled a bicycle wheel, open in the middle. Some 72 cables linking the outer and inner rings of the circle were slowly tightened to raise the roof from ground level to its present height.

Another first for the roof is the use of 16mm thick panels of glass to cover and protect the spectators from strong winds and rain. All systems of the 68 000-seater have been tested and the brand new stadium is now ready to welcome the world to the greatest show on earth.

Facts
- 96,000 cubic metres of concrete were used
- The roof has a total weight of 4,700 tons
- Some 9,000 glass panels were used to cover 37,000 square metres of roof
- 500 toilets and 360 urinals
- 115 entry turnstiles
- 16 lifts
- More than 2,500 workers were employed on site during construction, and almost 1,200 artisans received training from the contractors
- The stadium is the only one in the world with a glass ceiling
- In case of an emergency, the stadium can be evacuated in fifteen minutes

The Glass Roof Will Protect Fans From The Elements

History

The stadium replaces an 18 000 seat stadium. The previous stadium, which was demolished in 2007, was a multi-purpose stadium used mainly for football matches, and was the home ground of Santos Football Club and Ajax Cape Town.

Construction of the breathtaking new Cape Town Stadium, located on the Green Point Common between the twin icons of Table Mountain and Robben Island, began in March 2007.

In just 33 months, joint contractors Murray and Roberts and WBHO completed the massive project at a cost of R4.4-billion or approximately US$600-million.

The project architects were an association between GMP Architects of Germany and two local firms, Louis Karol and Associates and Point Architects.

Getting There

The stadium is located in Green Point common, between Signal Hill and the Atlantic Ocean, close to the Cape Town city centre and to the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, a popular tourist and shopping venue.

Fans wanting to get to the stadium will be able to use a number of public transport options. The location is ideal as it is a short walk from the transportation hub of the city, where trains, buses and taxis will get fans to their destination.

The fact that the stadium is within walking distance from the city means that there are also a number of informal taxis that move between the Green Point and Sea Point suburbs, and the city.

A comprehensive rail system will be in operation to supplement the existing public transport systems of buses and the informal taxi network. An Integrated Rapid Transit (IRT) service will be running by the time the event takes place. This service will offer residents and visitors a scheduled bus service between the city centre, the airport, Hout Bay, Table View and the stadium.

The public transport system will operate for extended hours, and will be supplemented by additional event transport services. Information on rail and bus schedules and fares will be available on the Internet and from the existing call centre (tel +27800 656 463).

As the minibus taxi industry operates independently of schedules or published rates, some local knowledge is required to flag down the correct vehicle for the desired destination, but ask a South African how it is done and they will help you out.

Travelling with private cars during the event may not be the best idea as FIFA and the host city will impose restrictions on non-accredited people, and certain areas, such as the Cape Town Stadium will be inaccessible via private car.

Cape Town Stadium Lighting Up The Night Sky

Plus And Minuses

Plus

- The inward pitch of the roof and the use of the roof’s inner ring to house the 360 lights (instead of using high exterior masts) are both features that reduce the negative visual impact from outside.

- The stadium has 16mm thick panels of glass to cover and protect the spectators from strong winds and rain. This will let in the light while the ceiling panels underneath – made of woven PVC fabric - will soften the noise from within.

- According to the architects that designed the stadium, in case of an emergency the venue can be evacuated in 15 minutes.

- The design of the stadium means that spectators are always close to the game, with the cheapest seat in the venue still providing fans with a great view of the matches.

- The stadium is situation near the coastline, while also being within walking distance of various shopping and entertainment areas.

Minus

- The use of the stadium after the World Cup will be divided amongst various sports codes, as well as other venue uses such as for concerts and mass gatherings. This will be good for the city, but the condition of the pitch may suffer as a result.

- The existence of the solid bedrock just below the surface means that the stadium could not be sunk into the ground, and therefore had to be higher, and more expensive for the organizers.

- As the host city with the greatest distance apart from the other cities, Cape Town Stadium will require more time and money to access from the other venues.


The Stadium Is Just Off The Cape Town Coastline

Games To Be Played

Eight World Cup games will be played at the Cape Town Stadium, including one of the two semi-finals at the end of the tournament.

The second match of the tournament will kick off Cape Town Stadium’s part in the event, with four more group games taking place at the venue, before a Round of 16 match, a quarter-final encounter and finally a semi-final complete the schedule for the coastal host city.