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Architectural beauty
The stunning 68 000-seater Cape Town Stadium on Green Point Common is an architectural masterpiece. Eight World Cup matches are scheduled to be played at the venue during the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.
Designer
Thirty-five-year-old Robert Hormes of GMP Architects in Germany was responsible for the unique design, which he describes as his favourite of the six stadiums he has designed worldwide. Murray & Roberts and WBHO completed the massive project at a cost of R4.5-billion. The project architects were GMP Architects of Germany and two local firms, Louis Karol and Associates and Point Architects.
Translucent beauty
An approach by air over the sea shows off the stadium’s translucence – incorporated into the design to complement the cloud cover that commonly drapes Table Mountain – to best advantage. A façade of woven fibreglass coated with Teflon sees the stadium transformed into a floating, rose-coloured bowl when lit up at night.
Roof
More than 70 cables link the outer and inner rings of the circular roof, which weighs a massive 4 700 tons. These were slowly tightened to raise the roof from ground level to its present height. Glass panels 16mm thick protect spectators from the elements without cutting out natural light.
Safety
A state-of-the-art camera surveillance system, monitored by police in the Venue Operations Centre inside the stadium, guarantees spectator safety. Pitch invasions are discouraged by a wide moat, while a designated on-site police station will handle criminal incidents.
Functionality
Following the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, the stadium’s seating will be reduced from 68?000 to 55000, making it suitable for international soccer and rugby matches and similar large events.
Sustainability
In addition to the stadium, Green Point Common has been upgraded to include sports fields and recreational areas. With a strong emphasis on sustainability, water from the stadium roof will be used to fill ponds on the common, and mountain spring water will be used for irrigation.
Transport
Special transport arrangements have been made for the duration of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ to ensure that visitors can travel comfortably and safely into Cape Town, from the city to Cape Town Stadium and back.
Match schedule
- Friday 11 June, Group A, 8.30pm
- Monday 14 June, Group F, 8.30pm
- Friday 18 June, Group C, 8.30pm
- Monday 21 June, Group G, 1.30pm
- Thursday 24 June, Group E, 8.30pm
- Tuesday 29 June, Round of 16, 8.30pm
- Saturday 3 July, Quarter-final, 4.00pm
- Tuesday 6 July, Semi-final, 8.30pm
Ticket sales
Tickets are available through www.FIFA.com. Ticket prices are dependent on the stage of the competition.
For more on the
2010 FIFA World Cup and accommodation, visit our accommodation site, at
www.soccerworldcupafrica.co.za. You can also read more about the
Cape Town Stadium
here.
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