Cape Town Stadium cannot be knocked down

City authorities reiterated on Thursday that the demolition of the loss-making Cape Town Stadium was not “going to be an option” after some residents again called on the city to consider demolishing the World Cup venue.

City authorities reiterated on Thursday that the demolition of the loss-making Cape Town Stadium was not “going to be an option” after some residents again called on the city to consider demolishing the World Cup venue.

The city on Wednesday hosted the first of a series of public meetings to inform residents of the statutory processes that are about to commence to ensure the sustained financial viability of the stadium. During the meeting‚ some residents supported the view that the stadium be demolished.

The stadium‚ like many other World Cup venues around the country‚ has been seen by some as a white elephant that is becoming an unnecessary burden for rate payers.

The city revealed in May that Cape Town Stadium’s total operating costs since 2009-10 stood at about R436m‚ while total income was R92m. The stadium has been struggling to host events‚ largely due to high hiring costs.

The city has proposed a new business plan which seeks to eradicate prohibitions placed against further development and business practice at the stadium. The city is also seeking to amend stringent regulations which ban commercial activity at the stadium‚ and to use the stadium precinct in an attempt to make the R4.5bn 2010 Soccer World Cup venue more sustainable.

Mayoral committee member for tourism‚ events and marketing Grant Pascoe said on Thursday that while some residents at Wednesday’s public meeting supported the view that the stadium be demolished‚ others praised the city for developing the Green Point Common‚ which saw property values improve and the area around the stadium become more pleasant.

“The City of Cape Town has noted the concerns raised at the public meeting‚ but would like to reiterate that demolition is not an option. We will continue to pursue alternative options to make the Cape Town Stadium financially sustainable‚” Pascoe said.

He said that the first step in the process was to attain a new environmental authorisation for the stadium in terms of the National Environmental Management Act‚ while the second was to apply for a new zoning provision in terms of the Land Use Planning Ordinance.

The applications would be made to the Western Cape environmental affairs and development planning department to optimise development opportunities and marketability of the stadium‚ enhance the income streams possible from the stadium‚ and to secure the economic and environmental sustainability of the stadium in the future.

“The two processes‚ including an extensive city-wide public participation process‚ are expected to be concluded in the next 12 to 18 months. Residents were also assured that the commercialisation would not include the Green Point Park and that a large section of the Green Point Common would remain public open space‚” Pascoe said.

“The stadium’s long-term viability is being limited by the current zoning restrictions. Through the statutory process‚ we are seeking to amend these conditions to ensure that the Cape Town Stadium becomes financially viable. The two changes are needed to give substance to the revenue options suggested by a business analysis undertaken by the City‚” Pascoe said.

He said 67% of the respondents polled earlier this year during the public participation process supported the stadium’s business plan findings‚ which included a call for a mixed-management model and commercial activity in the stadium precinct.

“Only one-third of respondents indicated that they did not support the proposed business plan's findings and less than 20% of respondents said it would be better to demolish the stadium‚” Pascoe said.