Name: Nelson Mandela Bay International Convention Centre
Use: Commercial
Floors: ?
Status: Proposed
Location: Port Elizabeth

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EC to get convention centre

2008/10/31

The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the development of an International Convention Centre (ICC) in Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa.

This facility is expected be a multi-configurable, state-of-the-art complex covering a total area of 27,000sq m and able to accommodate a 1,000 seat plenary. The international property development community has also been approached to consider submitting proposals to develop the ICC and considerable interest is expected from them.

"The ICC has been investigated by the NMBM, and we have taken a decision to implement the project as a priority because of its synergies with other developments and its inherent tourism potential. The funding required to construct and commission the ICC is expected to be around R800m (US$ 72,8m)," said the executive mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay, Nondumiso Maphazi.

The NMBM has tasked one of its entities, the Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA), to manage the project on its behalf, noting that the ICC fitted well with the mandate of the MBDA, which is to promote Nelson Mandela Bay as a hub for property investment in retail, residential, office, tourism, leisure, and entertainment and as a strong entry point for the rest of the province and the country.

"In order to continue to develop our status as a growing first-class African city, new products need to be developed to ensure that Nelson Mandela Bay continues to grow as an exciting, hospitable and world-class commercial city. In line with this approach, government and the private sector recognised the role played by property investment in retail, residential, office, tourism, leisure and entertainment as an investment and economic catalytic stimulus," said Mayor Maphazi.

The MBDA's chief executive officer, Pierre Voges, says the transfer of land on which the ICC will be developed will be dealt with on a long lease basis - with the RFP referring to a 99-year lease. The land that the NMBM has made available for long lease to the successful bidder (and in exchange for the ICC to be built) is prime developable land in the ICC precinct and totals approximately 18 hectares. The construction of the project will take place over a two-year period, commencing in 2010.

Voges says that the market research undertaken by the MBDA indicates that developers would prefer to construct the ICC as part of a larger leisure, tourism, entertainment, retail and residential precinct and the RFP asks for interested parties to specifically address these aspects in their proposals.

Voges comments that the ICC project will be a major economic catalyst for Nelson Mandela Bay and the Eastern Cape in general, as ICCs worldwide have proven to contribute to economic, tourism and employment growth. Good examples in South Africa are the Cape Town and Durban International Convention Centres.

For more information contact Pierre Voges on 083 309 0351.

1000 seater plenary...23000m2 and costing only R800m?? does that make sense?

Size wise where will this fit in relation to Durban, CT and Sandton ones?

1000 seater plenary...23000m2 and costing only R800m?? does that make sense?

Size wise where will this fit in relation to Durban, CT and Sandton ones?

I assume 23,000 sqm in terms of the size of the site not the size of the exhibition space. Exhibition space probably around 6,000 sqm. A Cape Town consortium are likely to bid given the massive success of the CTICC.

Cost likely to be R1.2 bn.

ok cool...but how much smaller than the 3 existing? cos surely a large one will not be initially sustainable?

Good,neccesary?

ok cool...but how much smaller than the 3 existing? cos surely a large one will not be initially sustainable?

I think this will be included in the proposal by bidders.

anybody know where the site is?

I thinks it's where the EPRFU Stadium is. I think they will demolish that stadium to make room for the Convention Centre.

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f286/piellejean/Nelson-Mandela-Bay-Conventi.jpg

will either be at the old boet erasmus aka telkom park or it will be where the current magnesium dumps are (near the harbour/ kings beach)

Not a bad area... but really thought they would've been smarter and tried to find somewhere closer to the CBD to try to revitalise the are further, plus somehow try to link the CBD to the sea, as CT is doing and as Durbs is trying with Point and gentrifying the Beachfront. Magnesium dumps sounds like a better plan!

^^ agreed. the stadium site is very isolated

^^ one time - current stadium pozzie should become flats or some such.

This is the Magnesium dumps and Storage Tanks Site. There is a huge parking area next to it the Kings Beach Parking.
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f286/piellejean/minedumps.jpg

^^ Seems like a better location... would help link Humewood with the CBD and in turn the CBD with the beach and the harbour.

However, sensitive issue maybe, but the question MUST be asked. PE, will it be able to compete with CTICC, ICC Durban and Sandton ICC? I'm hoping they're constructing this on a different scale, suiting a slightly different clientele. I just do not think, unless they build smaller, and thus more cost-effectively to draw some conference business there due to less cost, that PE will be able to compete on the same playing field as the 3 juggernauts, all of them by 2010 with world-class airports with direct international connections, decent public transit, tons of awesome new hotels etc.

Plus, we all know the other 3 cities are much more jacked-up when it comes to "urban experience." I'm not saying PE will fail, I'm just hoping they have a good marketing package and niche market/conference slant they're going to apply when advertising themselves.

^^ valid point. however, ever 2nd article about the 3 main ICC's is about how they are booked till 2013 ect, hence there must be plenty of ppl wanting to host events in SA, but being turned down due to a lack of national capacity. PE will get the overflow. further i imagine the automotive industry will use these venues, and there is always scope for the countless lani ANC meetings held in the bay area...
this project could only be good for PE.

^^ Seems like a better location... would help link Humewood with the CBD and in turn the CBD with the beach and the harbour.

However, sensitive issue maybe, but the question MUST be asked. PE, will it be able to compete with CTICC, ICC Durban and Sandton ICC? I'm hoping they're constructing this on a different scale, suiting a slightly different clientele. I just do not think, unless they build smaller, and thus more cost-effectively to draw some conference business there due to less cost, that PE will be able to compete on the same playing field as the 3 juggernauts, all of them by 2010 with world-class airports with direct international connections, decent public transit, tons of awesome new hotels etc.

Plus, we all know the other 3 cities are much more jacked-up when it comes to "urban experience." I'm not saying PE will fail, I'm just hoping they have a good marketing package and niche market/conference slant they're going to apply when advertising themselves.

Without sounding arrogant but if the Cape Town team wins the bid, a lot of the excess capacity the CTICC can't cope with would be sent to PE. Even with the expansion the CTICC will not be able to host everything it wants to.
I'm all for the harbour site, already thinking of a design.

wont the harbour site come into competition from Transnet?

probably.

the harbour site is owned by transnet. that is why the proposed move of the dumps to coega has taken so long.

^^ then i can tell you right now, dont even think of them releasing it for a convention centre. we have all seen the hassles they have given durban and CT with land around the harbour...they will always state they need it for "possible future requirements" even if those are 50 years away

^^ i hear you - they have been talking about moving the dump for years, yet nothing has happened. this has been going on since eraly 2000. gosh darn it. as far as pe goes that area is a prime spot, unfortunately it is occupied by dump. its a dump i tellz u.

lol...your beach areas arent really taken advantage of enough. they are wide, but things u expect to see... (waterside cafes or the like) just arent there...but dumps are

^^ It can be done... many over-industrial cities in America have turned their image's around. PE really needs to make a concerted effort and do some investment in their city, else they will remain the Detroit-of-South Africa, and that is by no means something to be proud of. It has the sea, some awesome scenery on the outskirts, they damnwell just need some visionary people in government and in Private-Public Partnerships, like the Cape Town Partnership is.

If they position their ICC intelligently, it could be step one in the right direction.

detroit of SA :-(

:lol:

this is the best oppertunity for the city to unlock downtown charm and link the old and new city. but the city management leaves alot to be desired...
q-rant unless some fat cat, customized # plate dickhead getz his cut, nothing will hgappen.. rant over.

detroit of SA :-(

:lol:

this is the best oppertunity for the city to unlock downtown charm and link the old and new city. but the city management leaves alot to be desired...
q-rant unless some fat cat, customized # plate dickhead getz his cut, nothing will hgappen.. rant over.

Let's hope ShiKota/DA/ID can make inroads there and make the Eastern Cape government and NM Bay Council quake in their boots to get some sh^t done for a change!!! :)

Port Elizabeth plans to build convention centre

10 Nov 2008 - Inet Bridge -

Intro
Port Elizabeth has set in motion a process to develop an International Convention Centre to further stimulate the city’s economy.

Loyiso Sibali

Property Reporter

PORT Elizabeth has set in motion a process to develop an International Convention Centre (ICC) to further stimulate the city’s economy.

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality mayor Nondumiso Maphazi last week said this was a priority project because of its synergies with other developments as well as its inherent tourism potential.

She also said the funding required to construct and commission the ICC was expected to be around R800m.

The Mandela Bay Development Agency was asked to manage the project on behalf of the municipality.

The agency’s mandate has been to promote the metropolis as a hub for property investment in retail, residential, office, tourism, leisure and entertainment, and as a strong entry point to the rest of the Eastern Cape and the country.

“In order to continue to develop our status as a growing first-class African city, new products need to be developed to ensure that Nelson Mandela Bay continues to grow as an exciting, hospitable and world class commercial city.

“In line with this approach, government and the private sector recognised the role played by property investment in retail, residential, office, tourism, leisure and entertainment as an investment and economic catalyst," said the mayor.

Pierre Voges, CEO of the development agency, said the ICC was expected to contribute a total of 639 direct, indirect and induced jobs in Nelson Mandela Bay and it would contribute R113m to the gross domestic product of the bay area in its first year of operation, increasing to R250m in its fifth year.

Voges also said that the land that the municipality had made available for the development of the property would be leased to the successful bidder for 99 years and would total around 18ha.

“It is likely that the majority of the funding (if not the total funding for the project) will come from the ‘transfer for capital’ option. For example, where a successful bidder develops an ICC in exchange for prime land in the rugby stadium precinct.

“This would, we believe, be a very attractive option as the land is prime developable land which is owned by the municipality and which the developer would develop on a 99-year lease basis, for multi-use purposes such as leisure, tourism, entertainment, office, residential, or retail," Voges said.

He said the ICC project would be a major economic catalyst for Nelson Mandela Bay and the Eastern Cape in general, as ICCs worldwide had been proven to contribute to economic, tourism and employment growth.

He said the preferred option also allowed the developer to operate the actual ICC or to appoint an operator for such a purpose since this would be a specialised activity.

“As in Cape Town and Durban, it is anticipated that the ICC could demand a 120 room hotel to be developed due to the length of stay by delegates attending conventions or conferences,” said Voges.

He said the development of the ICC would create such a demand that it would be necessary to construct another hotel, such as the Cape Town International Convention Centre’s Westin Grand and Durban’s Hilton.

Interested parties have until January13 next year to respond.

All parties submitting proposals would be required to attend a briefing session next Friday at the agency’s offices in Kwantu Towers, Port Elizabeth.

Source: Business Day

Architectural design please.

No final plans as yet as far as I know. Discussions still going on. Both Casino bidders have indicated investment in a conference centre, so we are waiting with bated breaths.

^^ the fact that East London has got one before PE speaks volumes