Stadium upgrade

In Mangaung, Free State stadium will be utilised as the main venue for the hosting of the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2009 and the 2010 FIFA World CupTM. The Free State stadium will be upgraded from the current seating capacity of 38 000 to 46 000. To achieve this seating capacity only the current grand stand will be upgraded. The upgrade comprises mainly the following elements:

• New crowd control facilities, including access and egress;
• Upgrade of the internal layout of the existing grand stand to accommodate additional VIP and VVIP facilities, FIFA and 2010 OC offices, medical and doping control facilities, upgraded dressing rooms and much improved horizontal and vertical circulation
• A new top tier accommodating the bulk of the additional seating and a cantilever roof structure extending over the written media seats.
• Upgrade of the floodlighting to the minimum 2 000 lux required by FIFA
• Temporary media centre and Outside Broadcasting compound
• Ticketing system
• Accreditation centre

During March 2007, Mangaung advertised nationally to invite suitable service providers to submit proposals for the upgrading of the Free State stadium in preparation for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The prices received were found to be much higher than the approved budget. As a result, Mangaung is testing the Market again to ensure that a competitive price is obtained. Despite this unforeseen delay, Mangaung is optimistic that it will commence with the upgrading of the Free State stadium at the end of July 2007. The completion date is the end for August 2008, four months ahead of the FIFA deadline of December 2008.

The construction of the upgrade of the grand stand will be done in several phases, involving several independent construction contracts.
• The first phase will commence at the end of July 2007. The completion date for this phase will be the end of August 2008.
• The stadium will then be utilised until the Confederation Cup scheduled to take place in June 2009. It must be mentioned that as the main work will be carried out on the current grand stand (i.e. western pavilion), attempts would be made to ensure the stadium remains operational during construction, subject to adherence to strict health and safety requirements
• A second contract will commence just before the 2009 Confederations Cup. The purpose of this contract is to complete the “overlay” work necessary for the event, which comprises of the specific requirements for mostly hospitality and the media
• A third contract will commence just before the 2010 FIFA World CupTM. The purpose of this contract is to complete the “overlay” work necessary for the big event, which comprises of the specific requirements for mostly hospitality and the media.
• The fourth contract will commence after the 2010 FIFA World CupTM and will include the removal of the “overlay” facilities and the construction of a few items that will be required to make the legacy stadium fully functional.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1395/1419903724_4630add0b3_b.jpg
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/FreeStatestadium2.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/69/202183993_8fff769df4_o.jpg
http://www.bloemfontein.co.za/gallery/full/Free%20State%20Stadium%20soccer%20crowd.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/226/493556155_aab8afaee6_o.jpg

http://wikitravel.org/upload/shared//thumb/f/fd/South_Africa-Bloemfontein-Free_State_Stadium01.jpg/800px-South_Africa-Bloemfontein-Free_State_Stadium01.jpg

I realy like this stadium, It is not original, but not standard as well. after mods, should be just perfect.

Question, does the SA competition attracked enough attendence to fill the stadiums after the WC?

It is used by both rugby and football teams and is in regular use.

If you can pick up Supersport (Or any other channel that shows the currie cup) on these next 2 weekends, this place will be packed !

If you can pick up Supersport (Or any other channel that shows the currie cup) on these next 2 weekends, this place will be packed !
9 october
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2205/1525022670_405c664287_b.jpg

other:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/99/285873261_897b36d98a_o.jpg

http://cache.gettyimages.com/xc/77534075.jpg?v=1&c=MS_GINS&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF193B13C65DA735B6EF3EE048EB35712DC34

Aerial view of the stadium at end of video.

http://www.supersport.co.za/video/default.aspx?id=739

Free State Stadium ready by October 2008

Artist's Impression
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/Bloem.jpg

and a nice one it is.
I realy like the ´old´ SA stadiums!

Yep looking at it again. I like it even more, It´s a classic.
Nice U vorm stands and the the main stand loose, but bigger as it should be.
Classic.

Sanyati’s R220m for Meyker
Leseja Mokgata Published:Dec 05, 2007

ALT-X-listed civil engineering and construction group Sanyati Holdings yesterday announced its R220- million acquisition of Meyker Group.

Rick Jackson, Sanyati’s chief executive, said: “This has enabled us to secure a database of leading corporate and public-sector clients, which will further expose Sanyati to this high-growth market segment.”

Meyker Group, established in 1996, is a supplier of optical-fibre cable installations to cellular network providers MTN and Vodacom, and to Transtel and Neotel.

Sanyati, which operates mainly in KwaZulu-Natal and Northern Province, recently acquired Ruthcon Civil Contractors and GEM Earthworks, extending its footprint to Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Eastern Cape.

“Our acquisitions have ensured that we are now a broad-range group offering services nationwide to the general construction market, as well as to lucrative niche markets such as road building and telecommunications infrastructure.”

Sanyati doubled its profit and turnover for the six months to August thanks to major contracts, including a stake in the R5.6-billion King Shaka International Airport job.

The group’s subsidiary, Afriscan, has a 10percent stake in the Ilembe consortium, which was awarded a R1.8-billion contract for the civil works at the airport.

Afriscan will bring in R190-million from the project.

Khaya Gobodo, a director of Renaissance fund managers, said: “We have been seeing a lot of companies doubling profits each year, and this has been the result of the large infrastructure drive by the government.”

The Meyker Group is part of a joint-venture recently awarded the contract for the upgrading of the Bloemfontein stadium for the 2010 Fifa World Cup.

Gobodo said: “Though the best of the growth in the construction industry is behind us, there is still a lot of growth ahead.”

Sanyati’s shares price opened at R3.27 and hit a high of R3.38 yesterday.

Bloemfontein will lose Test

Thursday 13th December 2007
Harold Verster says construction will be finished in August

Bloemfontein, which has struggled to secure Test matches in recent years, is set to lose out on featuring the Springboks in 2008. It is reported that construction work will make the city's main rugby venue, Vodacom Park, unavailable next year.

"It remains the Free State's Test. We will still be the hosts, but at another venue," Free State Rugby Union (FSRU) president Harold Verster told the Volksblad.

The news is a big blow for the city as the Springbok Test match against England earlier this year was the first at Vodacom Park in three years and only the fourth since 2000.

Interestingly enough there has been some speculation that Port Elizabeth could be an alternative venue for the Wales Test next year. Port Elizabeth has hosted a Test match in every year that Bloemfontein hasn't in the past seven years.

Between 2000 and 2005 the venues had been alternated before Port Elizabeth hosted Tests for two consecutive years; the last of which featured the Springboks against Scotland in 2006.

The probable venue switch comes at a time when Vodacom Park is starting to draw big crowds with the recent success of the Cheetahs.

On the contrary Port Elizabeth hasn't drawn very large crowds in recent years and the venue itself is hardly of a highest international standard.

Some pundits feel that Bloemfontein's main cricket stadium would be the ideal alternative to Vodacom Park, as it was also an alternative rugby venue in the past - which hosted the 1994 Currie Cup Final between the Lions and the Cheetahs (then Transvaal and Free State).

Free State administrators said earlier this year that four Test matches would be played in Bloemfontein during the next four years - with South Africa taking on Wales, Australia, New Zealand and either England or France in consecutive years in the city.

Now it would appear Bloemfontein will have to wait another year until it hosts another Test.

Verster was unable to say where the Wales Test match would be played and declined to comment any further on the matter.

"We have already discussed the issue [of the Welsh Test] with SA Rugby. No decision has been taken about the new venue," explained Verster.

SA Rugby regulations do not stipulate that a Test match, once it has been allocated to a union, should be played at the hosts' headquarters. The union may arrange for it to be played at a venue of their choice.

However inconvenient and even disappointing, the stadium reconstruction is expected to be of long-term benefit to the Free State rugby fraternity. Once the alterations have been completed Vodacom Park will offer seating to 45 000 spectators. The present capacity is 38 000.

"The construction work will be completed only in August next year [2008]," added Verster.

The city has become known as one of the top rugby venues in South Africa and outgoing Springbok coach Jake White has called it "a real rugby city".

However, because of the limited capacity during the alterations, Free State ran the risk of losing money on next year's Test if it were played in Bloemfontein.

http://www.construction.murrob.com/projects/FreeStateRugbyStadium.gif

http://www.fifa.com/mm/photo/tournament/destination/fs9_39015.jpg
http://www.fifa.com/mm/photo/tournament/destination/fs7_39014.jpg
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http://www.fifa.com/mm/photo/tournament/destination/fs2_39011.jpg
http://www.fifa.com/mm/photo/tournament/destination/fs1_39010.jpg

it will be ready?

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28.10.2008

Mo.Rush, a question for you, could we consider Free State stadium finished?

Second question, was Bloemfontein a dutch colony (see the orange like colour). Please describe a little this unknown town.

Thx a lot to our SouthAfrican friend from Milan.

Mo.Rush, a question for you, could we consider Free State stadium finished?

Second question, was Bloemfontein a dutch colony (see the orange like colour). Please describe a little this unknown town.

Thx a lot to our SouthAfrican friend from Milan.

Yes, its finished. At the moment the grass is just about ready. But as I've said before, minor works including temporary overlay will continue until June 2010.

NEW GRAND STAND ENTRANCE

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/Picture1-1.jpg
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/Picture31.jpg

NEW GRAND STAND ROOF

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/Picture28.jpg
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/Picture29.jpg

GRAND STAND CAMERA PLATFORM


http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/Picture26.jpg
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/Picture25.jpg

GRAND STAND VOC AREA

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/Picture27.jpg

MIXED ZONE

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/Picture2-1.jpg
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/Picture3-1.jpg
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/Picture4-1.jpg

VIP LOUNGE AREA

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/Picture16.jpg
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/Picture17.jpg

VVIP AREA

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/Picture18.jpg

MEDIA AREA

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/Picture19.jpg
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/Picture20.jpg

DOPING AREA

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/Picture10.jpg
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/Picture11.jpg

MEDICAL ROOM

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/Picture12.jpg
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/Picture13.jpg

FIFA OFFICE

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/Picture14.jpg

DISABLED TOILETS

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/Picture15.jpg

Thx Mo Rush the pitch seems to be very close so fans will have a great view.

Yes, its finished. At the moment the grass is just about ready. But as I've said before, minor works including temporary overlay will continue until June 2010.

An other WC stadium that can be moved to "complete section" according to Mo Rush's pics.

So 3 on 10 SA WC stadiums 're finished :banana: :banana:

An other WC stadium that can be moved to "complete section" according to Mo Rush's pics.

So 3 on 10 SA WC stadiums 're finished :banana: :banana:

I'd say 4 are ready.

I'd say 4 are ready.

Which is last stadium?

You wrote Loftus Versfeld is going to finish this month. :)

Which is last stadium?

You wrote Loftus Versfeld is going to finish this month. :)

its already in use, so technically its finished. contractors aren't on site anymore.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3414/3303556488_70d50f574a_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3393/3306792194_30c57a9f2e_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3441/3292312157_4e2e6148f0_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3327/3292310915_ac64968bd3_b.jpg

Ok, an advice to mods.

According to Mo Rush's words we can move threads about

1) Ellis Park - Februrary 2009
2) Royal Bafokeng - February 2009
3) Free State Stadium - February 2009
4) Loftus Versfeld - March 2009

like finished. In this way it is more simply and correct to supervise WC stadiums :)

Ok mods? Do you agree Mo. Rush?

An other question is Tshwane the same name of Pretoria?

An other question is Tshwane the same name of Pretoria?

it refers to the wider metropolitan area while Pretoria refers only to the city

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/Complete2.jpghttp://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/Complete3.jpghttp://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/Complete1.jpghttp://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/Complete4.jpg

please move to the Completed section

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq159/tadpolefarm/Bloemfontein%20Stadium/FSS_28Feb09_HDR_2.jpg

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq159/tadpolefarm/Bloemfontein%20Stadium/IMG_7497.jpg

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http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq159/tadpolefarm/Bloemfontein%20Stadium/IMG_7512.jpg

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq159/tadpolefarm/Bloemfontein%20Stadium/IMG_7514.jpg

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq159/tadpolefarm/Bloemfontein%20Stadium/IMG_7516.jpg

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq159/tadpolefarm/Bloemfontein%20Stadium/IMG_7517.jpg

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq159/tadpolefarm/Bloemfontein%20Stadium/IMG_7518.jpg

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http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq159/tadpolefarm/Bloemfontein%20Stadium/IMG_7504.jpg

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq159/tadpolefarm/Bloemfontein%20Stadium/IMG_7503.jpg

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq159/tadpolefarm/Bloemfontein%20Stadium/IMG_7500.jpg

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq159/tadpolefarm/Bloemfontein%20Stadium/IMG_7499.jpg

weired design
http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq159/tadpolefarm/Bloemfontein%20Stadium/IMG_7500.jpg

Does anyone have any before and after photos of the stadium? I'd be interesting to see the changes.

Is it gonna get new seats or is all the work done?

http://cache3.asset-cache.net/xc/88468985.jpg?v=1&c=NewsMaker&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF19356863F2C054EB266104CCB4863EBCBBFE30A760B0D811297http://cache4.asset-cache.net/xc/88468978.jpg?v=1&c=NewsMaker&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF19356863F2C054EB2666347637026AF7D03E30A760B0D811297http://cache1.asset-cache.net/xc/88468966.jpg?v=1&c=NewsMaker&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF19356863F2C054EB266D249713D7220E2DEE30A760B0D811297http://cache2.asset-cache.net/xc/88468970.jpg?v=1&c=NewsMaker&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF19356863F2C054EB26609BBCF4D9B7B3B08E30A760B0D811297http://cache3.asset-cache.net/xc/88468942.jpg?v=1&c=NewsMaker&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF19356863F2C054EB26603EC2AF8E4270158E30A760B0D811297http://cache4.asset-cache.net/xc/88468930.jpg?v=1&c=NewsMaker&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF19356863F2C054EB26663FD75952855B884E30A760B0D811297

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Hi Sercan, do you know if there are any pictures of the stadium pre-development?

Hi Sercan, do you know if there are any pictures of the stadium pre-development?

Grandstand only had a single tier with a roof. Roof removed, additional tier added.http://www.lionsrugby.com/images/content/bloemfontein.jpg
http://www.construction.murrob.com/projects/FreeStateRugbyStadium.gif

http://www.mangaung.co.za/2010Photos/Stadium-Progress-Pictures-Feb-08/stadium%20pic%209_Feb%2008.jpg

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0cZZ8hE2JBbhg/x900.jpghttp://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0fRDcMX6Ak3jo/900x.jpghttp://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0bCN9jh9y8bUb/900x.jpghttp://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/093RgTxdSvfqF/900x.jpg ..

Looks very nice. I like it a lot.

I love this stadium. Just wish it had green seats in all of it.

Japan 1-0 Cameroon

Attendance: 30,620

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1297/4701953339_0d3c9e2c64_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/prismatico/4701953339/

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1269/4700134783_479660e8f5_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ro0o7666/4700134783/

Greece 2-1 Nigeria

Attendance: 31,593

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4049/4709142749_494e1c5ef6_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31546085@N07/4709142749/

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1266/4709711164_8a364c6058_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31546085@N07/4709711164/

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1298/4709121801_9c9462e9db_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31546085@N07/4709121801/

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4017/4709704640_561748f994_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31546085@N07/4709704640/

Slovakia 0-2 Paraguay

Attendance: 26,643

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4067/4719588139_e19a498d72_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/prismatico/4719588139/

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4058/4720217546_5f905a4629_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/prismatico/4720217546/in/photostream/

France 1-2 South Africa :)

Attendance: 39,415

Only 26k on Slovakia - Paraguay? :(

With that new stand, it looks like 3/4 rectangular stadium and 1/4 oval stadium. It's supposed to be a football-only stadium.

^^ look at the pitch size.. IMO it's mostly a rugby stadium !

Switzerland 0-0 Honduras

Attendance: 28,042

http://www.construction.murrob.com/projects/FreeStateRugbyStadium.gif

The single-tiered grandstand had already existed before the Free State Stadium's redevelopment before the World Cup?

I now hate this stadium.

^^:cheers:4x1:bash:

Germany 4-1 England :shocked:

should be 4-2...oh well life always unfair

Germany 4-1 England

Attendance: 40,510

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4134/4738547655_1fbee4c2fd_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevinmcguire/4738547655/in/photostream/

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4122/4739180108_0650f2bde3_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevinmcguire/4739180108/

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4096/4739180556_2a51fdfbdc_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevinmcguire/4739180556/in/photostream/

well done BLOEM, for putting on the bestsiide of the city on this huge stage...100%