The City of Cape Town has approved a proposal to ask the Provincial Government of the Western Cape to consider the rezoning of Cape Town Stadium and Green Point Park in order to allow for commercial activity.
If granted, the rezoning will enable the stadium to become more commercially sustainable and reduce its maintenance and operational costs.
The recommendation to mandate the Executive Director for Tourism, Events and Marketing, Anton Groenewald, to enter into a process with the provincial Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning was approved by Council.
The City will seek amendments to the land use rights of the stadium and its forecourt, as well as the Green Point Park.
This will require changes to the Record of Decision which was finalised ahead of the approval for the construction of the stadium for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. The RoD considered concerns raised by Green Point residents and other stakeholders, and has strict regulations banning commercial activity at and surrounding the stadium, as well as limits on noise, parking and other issues.
The Executive Director will enter into consultations with all the relevant stakeholders and the Green Point Urban Park Forum during the process.
Last year the City appointed a business analyst to look into ways in which the venue can raise more money and become commercially viable. Recommendations included lifting the ban on commercial activity such as restaurants, a coffee shop, sports bars, office, retail and conference space, commercial parking, and temporary hospitality facilities on the forecourt. The business plan also recommended that suites be developed and that an anchor tenant is secured. Negotiations with the Western Province Rugby Union are continuing.
“The City is committed to ensuring the long term viability and sustainability of the Cape Town Stadium so that it can be enjoyed by all the people of Cape Town now and in the future. We are also committed to ensuring that we reduce the rates burden of maintaining and operating the stadium to the high standard it deserves and we enjoy. For these reasons we are looking to explore some commercialisation of the space. We have only just commenced a long process to have commercial activity authorised and we will ensure that we conduct a comprehensive public consultation programme on this plan,” said Cllr Brett Herron, Mayoral Committee Member: Transport, Roads Stormwater.
Meanwhile, the City is moving ahead with its plans to turn the Green Point Athletics Stadium into a track and field hub.
The old Green Point Stadium was partially demolished to make room for the new stadium, but what remains of it will be reconfigured into a new athletics stadium, with a soccer field within the new track. It will have 5 000 seats and a hi-tech steel roof, and will be finished by February 2013.
The Green Point Common will also accommodate other sporting and recreational facilities, such as cricket, tennis, bowls and athletics.
