#Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium - 46 500 Seats - North End, Port Elizabeth | Complete [PART 2]

[Juanl]

adelaide also wants to move to a sat-sun format... the naysayers are just 'give everything to cape town'ers. having gone in on sat i can say the atmosphere was great. the pe people really bought into the tournament. next year will be even better. the food was professional. not all concessions were open but i didn't get the sense that fans were eager to get back to the stands for the zimbabwe, use etc games. a lot of people chilled on the concourse while the small guns were playing. really think safricans need to stop bitchin at every opportunity. sat was great. pe was surely better than george.

another suggestion: do away with the 'family stand'. that was the emptiest of the lot. turns out people want to be around drinkers if it means there's more of a vibe.

[SA BOY]

Originally Posted by grjplanes

Many of the 7s tournaments is or was in previous years in cities not served by Emirates (ie. Gold Coast, Wellington, George), that has actually got very little to do with it...BUT it was one of the factors given to change it from George to PE...it was said that they can't fly the teams direct from Dubai (the previous tournament) to George because there is no immigration services, Emirates aircraft that can land at PLZ could just as well land at GRJ (GRJ actually has 20m longer runway). In the end it seems the teams didn't fly direct to/from PLZ, but also had to be channeled through Jo'burg.

George was the last few years nearly sold-out on the Friday and always sold-out on the Saturdays (if weather permitting)...albeit with smaller capacity stadium. At least a full small stadium looks better than a empty large stadium?

EK flies to Wellington and Brissie which is about an Hour north of Gold coast so call it serving both cities. Vegas is the only other place not served by EK.
deff need to do a sat sunday tournament to get better crowds

[crazydude]

The rumours of Maritzburg United moving to PE keep growing louder:

The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality is reportedly preparing a R20 million deal to lure Maritzburg United to the windy city for the entire 2012/13 season.

According to the Herald, the municipality is on a soccer spending spree having already pledged R30 million to co-host next year's Africa Cup of Nations despite a "a squeeze on its finances".

The city apparently forked out R11.8 million this season to host nine PSL soccer matches at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, where Maritzburg United played three League matches this season.

Maritzburg were paid R750 000 by the metro for each of the three matches played in the Bay, out of the R11.8 million allocated by council for "the promoting of soccer matches at the stadium”.

The pending deal between Maritzburg United and the municipality is apparently a month away from being sealed.

However, the municipality's plan has been met with strong objections by Bay Stars – the local team competing in the Eastern Cape Vodacom League.

"It's unjust and unfair for the municipality to buy a team that won't be permanently be residing in PE… We appeal to the metro to support Nelson Mandela Bay teams. It will be a slap in the face if they do that [buy Maritzburg United]," says Bay Stars coach Graham Harrison.

Maritzburg United's Farouk and Younis Kadodia were not available for comment.

Kickoff

I feel bad for Maritzburg City fans, but I would love to see PE have a PSL team again.

[MrChavcore]

they sure do love wasting public funds in pe don't they?

[crazydude]

Not sure if this can be belived, but a News24 blog claims to know the terms of the operator contract:

The contract between AFLM and the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro states that, above the R 600 000 a month, AFLM are to be awarded performance bonuses based on the revenue they generate, providing this amount exceeds R 12,5 million a year. The structure of this bonus is as follows:

The Operator will be paid 10% of any amount above R12.5 million but less than R15 million, and then:

· 12.5% of any amount in excess of R15 million but less than R20 million;

· 15% of any amount in excess of R20 million but less than R25 million; and

· 20% of any amount in excess of R25 million.

Source

Anyone know if those numbers are realistic? Access did just get their contract renewed this month. As for the links to rugby, they have been brought up before.

[crazydude]

From this morning's Herald:

A MULTIMILLION-RAND deal to bring PSL soccer to Port Elizabeth next season could be struck between the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality and Maritzburg United within the next few days.

Maritzburg chairman Farouk Kadodia said yesterday a decision regarding his club’s future would be made within the "next three days”.

Kadodia confirmed that a R20-million offer over three years had been received for the club to play all their home matches at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. The club, however, would not be sold and would retain their name.

He said negotiations would be ongoing but that a decision, either way, was likely to be reached by the end of the week.

"When this figure hit the papers in PE, I hear there was a public outcry,” Kadodia said. "But the people of Port Elizabeth must understand these are the basic costs to run a PSL team.

"The bottom line is that if you want a team in Port Elizabeth, you have to do it properly.”

He said selling the franchise was not an option at this stage, but that it could become one if an acceptable offer was received.

"Nobody has come forward with an offer to buy the team. If PE come forward and give me an offer that is market-related to the PSL then I’ll consider it.”

A lack of sponsorship has hamstrung the club’s success during their five-year stint in the PSL. But they have managed to avoid relegation despite having modest funding.

Kadodia said the R20-million deal would help to ensure the club can compete with the top sides in South African soccer.

"The PSL supplies R1-million a month. The top teams like Pirates and Chiefs have budgets of around R4.5-million a month for their players’ salaries. We are saying we need to add R1-million to our budget per month so that we have a competitive team,” he said.

"The costs of relocating are quite heavy. Our travel bill alone will be R1-million more between Maritzburg and Port Elizabeth. Also, if we move to Port Elizabeth I have to buy players who the fans can identify with so that we can make the stadium work.”

A key component of stadium operator Access Management’s role is to ensure the sustainability of the R2.5-billion structure.

That brief also requires that an anchor soccer tenant is secured. Hence the bid to lure Maritzburg United to the Bay.

Kadodia pleaded with the public that if the deal came off they would support the team as their own.

"We ask that the people in Port Elizabeth open their arms a bit wider.

"What we want to achieve as Maritzburg United is get the people behind the team.

"We would obviously establish an academy in Port Elizabeth and the following year we would see local youths being drafted into our squad so that PE people can identify with them.”

Access Management spokeswoman Buli Ngomane referred all queries to the municipal communications office and the Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA).

When contacted, MBDA chief executive Pierre Voges said he was in an out-of-town meeting and was unable to comment until this morning.

Municipal spokesman Kupido Baron confirmed the metro was concluding a deal with United, but the decision would only be taken once the mayoral executive committee had met.

The Herald

This looks worrying. The club isn't being bought, merely 'rented'. This leaves the door open for the club to leave again after 3 years. 20 million over 3 years is roughly 500 000 per month, still 500 000 per month shy of the Maritzburg target. I wonder if they expect to pick up a sponsor through the 'move'.

Overall, I'll be glad to have a team in PE, but I would rather see a team here for good.

[crazydude]

Sport Elizabeth says that the deal to move Maritzburg United to PE is off. Councilors voted against the deal, and the PSL deadline for home stadiums was 29 May, extended from 19 May. The article can be read online here, pages 1 and 3.

While the team won't move, hosting games in PE is left as an option. Afterall, PSL teams move matches relatively often. Also, nothing says that most matches must be played at your first choice ground, Chiefs played more matches in Polokwane than at Soccer City.

In other bad news for PE football, Bay Stars will finish 2nd in the Vodacom League, and cannot be promoted to the NFD.

[Andrew_za]

Boks playing in PE...Anyone going? If so, pictures please!

[dysan1]

WTF... only read this now, but the PE council were actually actively considering paying out of taxpayers money to "rent" the Martizburg team? And have been paying them to play games in PE this past season??? Surely that goes against some form ethics and ways fo spending tax money??

[crazydude]

Andrew, I'll be there, will try to post pics after. Dysan, here in SA Nelspruit and Polokwane pay teams to play in their stadiums. In the USA many teams play rent free, and have stadiums built for them with tax payers money.

[dysan1]

Originally Posted by crazydude

Andrew, I'll be there, will try to post pics after. Dysan, here in SA Nelspruit and Polokwane pay teams to play in their stadiums. In the USA many teams play rent free, and have stadiums built for them with tax payers money.

No problem on stadiums being built if the cities can find other alternative uses and income streams for them, but renting a team to use your stadium for 3 years? What on earth would PE as a city gain from doing that? it is not as if they are getting the Bucs or Man U or something. I fail to see the benefit, rather put the money into better training grooming programs and support a local team.

Amazulu in Durbs used to be a DOG of a team, but through constant support they are really starting to up their ante and brand. Surely PE could tht behind a home grown team?

[crazydude]

Originally Posted by dysan1

No problem on stadiums being built if the cities can find other alternative uses and income streams for them, but renting a team to use your stadium for 3 years? What on earth would PE as a city gain from doing that? it is not as if they are getting the Bucs or Man U or something. I fail to see the benefit, rather put the money into better training grooming programs and support a local team.

Amazulu in Durbs used to be a DOG of a team, but through constant support they are really starting to up their ante and brand. Surely PE could tht behind a home grown team?

The metro currently sponsors a Vodacom League (3rd tier) team, Bay Stars. They finished 2nd on the Eastern Cape log. The problem is gaining promotion is rather hard. You need to win your league, to get into the 9 team play off, then only the top 2 get into the NFD. Thus it could take forever to get a team into the NFD.

Renting a team gets a PSL side straight away. I also assumed it was the first step to buying the club. While some might not like the idea of buying a club like a franchise, it's quite acceptable in SA.

[Andrew_za]

Originally Posted by crazydude

Andrew, I'll be there, will try to post pics after.

Thanks. Especially outside the stadium and one of the stadium concourse

Have a blast!

[dysan1]

Originally Posted by crazydude

The metro currently sponsors a Vodacom League (3rd tier) team, Bay Stars. They finished 2nd on the Eastern Cape log. The problem is gaining promotion is rather hard. You need to win your league, to get into the 9 team play off, then only the top 2 get into the NFD. Thus it could take forever to get a team into the NFD.

Renting a team gets a PSL side straight away. I also assumed it was the first step to buying the club. While some might not like the idea of buying a club like a franchise, it's quite acceptable in SA.

but buying it will mean starting from scratch too as that team has no support base in PE. I dunno, just don't feel it is something a city government should be doing, rather private investors from that city.

On a side note the stadium looked great on tv the other night. Grass looked super.

[crazydude]

This morning's Weekend Post reports that PE may be stripped of its AFCON host city status. This is due to the metro's budget crisis. The budget has already cut all funding for sport. SAFA says it isn't offical, but the Weekend Post's source says it's likely to happen.

It's not on their website, but it can be seen in this picture of the article: on Facebook

[crazydude]

The Southern Kings are offically in Super Rugby for 2013, story on News 24. This is great for the stadium. Rugby tenant is now sorted, we just need a football team now.

[crazydude]

The stadium will host another PSL match this season. Kaizer Chiefs will host Bloemfontein Celtic on 6 October at the stadium. The match was originally scheduled for Soccer City, but the stadium is double booked. The Springboks play the All Blacks at Soccer City on that date.

[adeaide]

if you want to see more Stadium pictures , Please visit below.

Port Elizabeth , Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium ③

Port Elizabeth , Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium ②

Port Elizabeth , Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium ①

[crazydude]

It's a bit thin on detail, but a report on profits:

The Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium had generated income to the tune of R46.2m by the end of February, which is 90% of its annual anticipated revenue.

According to a report on the provisional financial performance of the stadium up to the end of February, the year-to-date variable event expenses total R22.9m generating a gross profit from events of R23.3m.

Revenue at the stadium has received a substantial boost from Super 15 Rugby, as well as the annual IRB 7's tournament that is played at the end of the year.

The report says total operating expenditure for the first eight months of the financial year was 64% of the expected operational budget for the year.

Fixed operating costs, including facilities maintenance for the same period amounted to 60% of the annual budget.

Algoa FM

[Pule]

wow...