FNB stadium to be upgraded, seating capacity to increase

fnb stadium to be upgraded, seating capacity to increase

johannesburg's fnb stadium is about to undergo a r364m upgrade that will get under way in earnest in september.

stadium gm dennis mumble said yesterday the improvements would be completed by 2006, and the seating capacity would increase to a 94700.

"the construction engineers, the architectures and the construction/project managers are already on standby," said an upbeat mumble.

the stadium, also know as soccer city, was built in 1989 at a cost of about r52m, but the second phase of the gigantic structure was never completed.

sa's 2010 soccer world cup coup at the weekend has speeded up the process, and the stadium's facelift would now get under way sooner rather than later.

"we are currently in a period of consultation, but whoever is doing what must start in september and finish by 2006."

fnb stadium is owned by the stadia and soccer development trust, which is controlled by the south african football association.

banking group first national bank will retain the stadium's naming rights for the next 10 years while construction company grinaker lta have the contractual rights to the mammoth project by virtue of being the original constructors of the venue.

mumble said that the funds for the project would be raised from the sale of corporate suites and from government.

"the stadium currently has 85 suites, but they will increase to 184 once the second phase is completed."

a board meeting would be held in the next few weeks to determine the new suite prices.

in the past, the suites were priced according to two categories: loyalty prices and the firsttime buyers.

the existing owners renewed contracts at r650000 a suite for 10 years while newcomers paid r750000.

but according to mumble, the prices could be increased considerably as winning the rights to host the 2010 soccer world cup has suddenly turned fnb stadium into a gold mine.

"we have had a great demand for the existing suites, but my headache is compounded by the fact that i only have two left to assign (prior to the upgrade)."

fnb stadium is expected to host the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as the final of the world cup.

the imposing venue's maintenance bill already stands at r3,5m a year while the water account alone is at r40000 per month. the maintenance of the field area, depending on how much rain falls during the month, costs r28000.

these astronomical costs are one of the reasons the stadium had to be fully operational by 2006, said mumble.

if it is completed by then, the venue could bid to host several high-profile events such as the fifa world club championships and the 2008 african nations cup in a dry run before 2010.