Success on Cape Town's Fan Walk

This post from Cool Town Studios gives a favorable review of the Cape Town Fan Walk, a pedestrianized 1.6 mile/2.6 kilometer promenade connecting the Green Point Stadium with the central business district.

You can’t ask for a more entertaining walk, or rather, experience. What’s more, it’ll be a cultural showcase of the best Cape Town and South Africa have to offer in terms of local food (braai, potije, boerewors, gourjons…) to local entertainment (from live bands to drum circles).

Now, in the spirit of crowdsourcing, with the tremendous success of the Fan Walk demonstrated by the enthusiastic crowds, should there by any surprise that the local government is now looking at making it more of a permanent feature?

Also linked this video about planning the Fan Fest:



Cape Town’s spectacular World Cup fan walk
Cool Town Studios
July 9, 2010

Cold Leaves Fan Parks Empty

Due to a cold streak rushing across South Africa, fan parks in Johannesburg and other cities have seen lower than expected attendance rates.

[O]ne week into the tournament, a cold spell of weather added to a disappointing defeat by South Africa to Uruguay on Wednesday have left only a few dozen die-hard believers, wrapped up warm and huddled together braving the outdoor parks where temperatures have hovered around zero degrees.

Fan zones frozen out
June 18, 2010

Home-Made Public Viewing Area in Durban

Community members in Durban plan to create their own public viewing area in a local park.

“We are known as the ‘corner boys’, but we have formed a committee to formulate what we are doing,” Buckley says. “Everyone is so excited about the spectacle coming to our country – it’s a once-in-a-life-time opportunity.”

Buckley said the plan was to convert the local park into their own fan park in time for the kickoff on June 11.

“We plan on setting up a big screen in the park to show the games.”

2010 World Cup mania - fans can’t wait for kickoff
Sowetan
May 27, 2010

Polokwane Takes World Cup Preparations Beyon Stadium

Polokwane and the Limpopo Provincial government are hoping their preparations for the World Cup will help foster relations between African countries.

These include a newly built tourism and information centre that will be utilized to attract tourists to the City of Stars and upgraded infrastructure such as roads and bridges. City officials have also incorporated a unique feature in the province's world cup fan fare programme by developing what has been named a 'cultural village', aimed at giving the World Cup an African feel. Organisers say the African village will also be used as a tourist attraction site in which 10 different African countries will showcase their heritage and culture. Plans are under way to ensure the idea is used to foster relations among African countries beyond the World Cup.

South Africa: Limpopo Ready for World Cup- Motlanthe
Bua News
May 23, 2010

An Introduction to South Africa's Planned Fan Parks

This post lists and describes the free fan park viewing areas that are going tobe set up throughout the country during the World Cup.

Every host city has set up FIFA Fan Fests, where soccer lovers will be able to watch their favourite teams compete.

The Fan Fest venues will be open on all match-playing days and entrance will be free.

Soweto soccer fans will watch all World Cup matches at the Rockville Fan Fest at Elkah Stadium. The venue is conveniently located next to the Thokoza Park station of Johannesburg's new bus rapid transit system. Up to 40 000 people can be hosted at Elkah Stadium.

FIFA Fan Fests - A Different World Cup Experience
Freenetafrica
My 12, 2010

Cape Town's Handicap-Accessible Fan Park and Stadium

The new Cape Town Stadium and the fan park area leading up to the stadium will be handicap-accessible, according to local tourism officials.

The route through the city to the new Cape Town Stadium is fairly disabled-friendly.

Cape Town tourism authorities say the city has gone out of its way to make the World Cup an accessible and enjoyable experience for disabled soccer fans.

Cape Town Tourism chief executive Mariette du Toit-Helmbold said the city would ensure that disabled fans got to the stadium and fan parks in comfort.

Stadium is 'disabled-friendly'
Cape Argus
April 30, 2010

Cape Town Street Vendors Pushed Out for Fan Park

More than 300 street vendors in Cape Town' Grand Parade area have been instructed to leave the area beginning May 1, and not return until after the World Cup is over. They are being removed to make room for a fan park.

"According to the host-city agreement, the city is legally obligated to provide a stadium and a fan-fest area," said Thembinkosi Siganda, Cape Town's director of economic and human development.

"After a location analysis the city identified the Grand Parade as a fan-fest area and this was approved by Fifa."

Cape traders to be moved ahead of World Cup
April 26, 2010

Dispute Drags on Over eThekwini Beachfront Beautification Project

A land battle between a beachfront property owner and the eThekwini municipality is heating up. The city is arguing that the landowner has deliberately stalled the renovation of his beachfront amusement park, which was to be beautified ahead of the World Cup. The new set of delays could push back a legal decision -- and any work -- until mid-May.

But Steyn said in the latest round of papers filed with the Durban High Court that this was "disingenuous and unconvincing", and asked why the council could not find space elsewhere for the traders.

"It seems it is intent on advancing, for its own commercial gain, the rights of other commercial entities to the detriment of the applicant.

"Surely the location of street traders is irrelevant to the success and future opportunities of the World Cup," he said.

The council, in its previous papers, disclosed that Steyn had complained about loss of income and asked for compensation of R1.5-million, which had been refused. Steyn insisted that his business had suffered during the upgrade, with telephone lines, water and electricity frequently cut off. He said three of the four entrances to his park were also closed off.

Beachfront battle turns ugly
The Mercury
April 22, 2010

South African Food Chain Seeks A Spot in Fan Parks

The South African causal dining chain Nando's in looking to cash in on the World Cup by becoming an official food vendor at many of the fan parks being set up for the event. Fast food giant McDonald's recently declined to serve as official food vendor at the parks.

On Thursday Nando's chief executive Noel Doyle told Sake24.com that the motive was not profit, but rather to give the company and its staff an opportunity to share the enthusiasm and become involved in the tournament.

The fast-food group is currently negotiating with nine municipalities, following McDonald's decision not to exercise its rights to provide food in the Fan Parks.

Nando's already has an agreement with Durban's eThekwini municipality, but Doyle would not comment on the negotiations currently under way.

Nando's wants World Cup action
Fin 24
April 16, 2010

Providing Fan Parks and Viewing Areas in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is dedicating $2 million to create public World Cup viewing areas in cities and to facilitate the transmission of game broadcasts to rural areas.

[Tourism Minister Walter] Mzembi said there will be no charge to watch games in the rural viewing locations, while city residents will be charged one dollar to access the sites.

Zimbabwe Budgets US$2 Million for Public Viewing of World Cup in Rural Areas
April 8, 2010

Drunken Fans Face Arrests at KZN Fan Parks

Drunken fans will be arrested on sight at fan parks near the beaches of KwaZulu-Natal, according to police officials. They plan to have a zero-tolerance policy for drunken fans who pose a risk of drowning.

“There will be fan parks around the beaches, and on the North Beach (Durban), but I must insist that no drunk fan will be allowed to enter the beach,” [MEC for economic development and tourism Mike] Mabuyakhulu said.

“The police will be there and so will volunteers and marshals, because we all know how dangerous it is for a drunk person to go on to the beach.”

‘No drunks at the fan parks’
Sowetan
March 19, 2010

Temporary Fan Park to Be Built in Berlin

An 8,000-person capacity temporary stadium will be built as a fan park in Berlin during the World Cup. The stadium will be built on the grounds of a now unused airport in the middle of the city -- a plot of land that has been the focus of planners and architects looking for ways to reuse and revive the area.

The arena, to be built at the disused Tempelhof airport, will cost a reported €1.5 million (US$2.4 million) to construct, and feature giant screens measuring as much as 100 square feet.

Fifa World Cup arena to be constructed in Berlin
SportsPro
February 2, 2010

Condoms To Be Handed Out At Fan Parks

In an effort to encourage safe sex, condoms will be distributed for free at World Cup fan parks throughout South Africa during the World Cup.

This is a part of the Gauteng department of health and social development’s massive safe sex campaign to coincide with the tournament.

Department spokesperson Mandla Sidu said yesterday: "The campaign will focus on educating people about safe sex and the role played by alcohol and drugs in the spread of HIV-Aids."

Free condoms at 2010 WC fan parks
Sowetan
February 12, 2010

Cape Town Square to Host Fan Park

A town square in front of Cape Town's city hall will be transformed into a fan park for one month during the World Cup tournament.

The historic square opposite the city hall will be the official fan park for the World Cup.

Phase one of a multi-phased upgrade has been completed, with city officials expected to add the final touches closer to the event.

The 2010 Fifa fan fest tender was last month awarded to a joint venture between World Sport, VWV and Grand Parade Investments. World Sport is also the organiser of the J and B Met.

Get ready for a Grand Parade World Cup bash
Cape Argus
February 2, 2010

Host Cities to Host Fan Parks

Fan viewing parks will be set up in each of the nine host cities during the World Cup, according to the Local Organizing Committee.

Public viewing areas to broaden the reach of the 2010 Fifa World Cup are going to be set up in the nine host cities and access is "mahala", Local Organising Committee chief executive officer Danny Jordaan said on Monday.

'Mahala' fan parks for World Cup
Independent Online
November 23, 2009

KwaZulu-Natal Hosts Public Viewing Areas

The KwaZulu-Natal provincial government has invested 20 million Rand (~$2.5 million) to set up four public viewing areas where locals can watch Confederations Cup games.

The province will host public viewing areas (PVAs) at four key districts in the province to give people a taste of the Confederations Cup excitement.

Entry to the PVAs is free.

Big screens for Cup action
The Sowetan
June 11, 2009

Nine SA Sites Chosen for Fan Parks, Neighboring Botswana Left Out

Botswana will not play host to any sanctioned fan parks during the 2010 World Cup. However, the country is not prohibited from setting up less formalized public viewing areas.

There were hopes that Botswana would have some fan parks during the month-long football jamboree, the first to be hosted in Africa.

"There will only be nine fan parks in South Africa. Botswana will not be able to host fan parks, but instead public viewing areas would be applicable here" Moopeloa said.

Fan parks are designated areas where fans can go and watch soccer matches live at public screening. The concept became popular during the 2006 FIFA World Cup finals in Germany. An estimated 20million fans thronged fan parks while the figure of supporters who went to the stadium was three million.

What would be considered for Botswana, are Public Viewing Areas (PVAs) and the Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC) is in contact with FIFA and other stakeholders in South Africa regarding the viewing facilities.

Source:
No 2010 fan parks for Botswana
Mmegi Online
June 2, 2009

No Fan Parks for Confederations Cup

The Local Organizing Committee has announced that no fan parks will be set up during June's Confederations Cup.

The LOC is optimistic that the local hospitality industry will be the biggest winner from the absence of fan parks for the tournament.

“Although there will be no official fan parks for the Confederations Cup, the atmosphere around the host cities, and also the rest of the country, will be electric as the top teams in the world battle it out on our own soil,” says an optimistic LOC spokesperson Rich Mkhondo.

The LOC says those in the hospitality industry can do good business during the tournament in June.

Source:
Fans Don’t despair - More public viewing areas planned
Sunday World
April 18, 2009

Poor Johannesburg Community to Get New Soccer Field by October

As part of FIFA's World Cup legacy program, one of 27 new artificial soccer fields will be built in the Orange Farm community near Johannesburg by October.

Complete with change rooms, training lights and security fencing, the stadium will serve the youth of Orange Farm, one of the poorer communities in the south of Johannesburg.

It will have a clubhouse and an office to be used by the local football community, reports Joburg.org.

The artificial pitch is one of 27 that are planned for townships and rural areas, at a cost of R81-million, in the legacy programme of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa (OC) and the National Lotteries Trust Fund (NLDTF).

The first nine pitches have already been approved. Ultimately, each province will have three artificial pitches located next to a school or public institution in a programme that will run over three years.

Source:
South Africa: Orange Farm to Get Soccer Pitch
BuaNews
April 16, 2009

Artificial Fields to Be Built Throughout Country

27 artificial soccer fields are planned to be built throughout South Africa over the next three years as part of a donation from the National Lottery Distribution Fund.

On Monday, at the Local Organising Committee headquarters, next to the spectacular "calabash" Soccer City which is quickly nearing completion, the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund announced a donation of R81-million for the building of 27 artificial pitches.

The project will see three pitches per province and the project will be completed over the next three years.

Already nine sites have been identified for the pitches: in Gauteng, Orange Farm; Limpopo, Thohoyandou; in Mpumalanga, Siyabuswa; in North West, Moses Kotane Municipality; in Northern Cape, Upington; in the Free State, Phuthaditjaba; in the Western Cape, Grassy Park; in Eastern Cape, Cacadu; and KwaZulu-Natal, Ixopo.

Source:
Artificial pitches to be built ahead of 2010
Independent Online
April 7, 2009