Kikuyu grass for Athlone Stadium

Athlone Stadium has been closed for the remainder of 2009, in order for a new grass pitch to be laid and the upgrading of the north and south spectator stands to be finalised before the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.

The stadium will serve as a practice venue during the World Cup, and the City of Cape Town wants to ensure that the facilities and pitch will be in pristine condition.

The previous grass pitch, which had been used for years by Cape Town soccer clubs Santos and Ajax Cape Town, did not meet FIFA’s requirement that the grass must be the same as the playing surface for the World Cup matches that will take place at Green Point Stadium.

The new pitch will have a kikuyu base (warm season turf) overseeded with rye (cool season turf), meaning that the stadium can be used throughout the year.

The tender for the new surface has been awarded and work is set to begin.

Image source: Bruce Sutherland, City of Cape Town

Cape Town: There are no words

Absolutely magnificent

Image source: Bruce Sutherland, City of Cape Town

Polokwane on track

The Peter Mokaba stadium in Polokwane is certainly on track to meet its FIFA deadline. This 45,000 seat venue is perhaps one of the less controversial venues, with great progress being made. The majority of the seating structures are in place or will be in place shortly, while the roof trusses appear to be in place, awaiting the inner glass section and the steel membrane.

Located 5km from the city centre, the venue has been designed by AFL architects, the same team responsible for the design of the expansion of the "Theatre of dreams", Old Trafford in Manchester. The Limpopo province has the largest number of registered football players in the country and this new venue will certainly provide a great arena for generations to come.

Inside Bloems world cup venue

The Free State stadium is just about completed with its preparations for the 2009 Confederations Cup. The new grand stand was completed towards the end of the 2008, with the installation of seating completed early in January this year. Apart from the external upgrade to the grand stand, the spaces within the stadium have also been transformed. New and improved areas for players, VIP's and the FIFA family have boosted the quality of this famous South African venue.

The FIFA inspection which took place on 20 February 2009 saw the venue pass with flying colours. Landscaping works started in January and will continue until the end of March, providing improved spaces for spectators and the FIFA family around the venue. As the venue enters event mode, temporary overlay will be erected around the venue, some of which includes a media centre and corporate hospitality areas.

Some of these images taken in January 2009 provide a view of some of the new and improved areas within the stadium structure. The practical completion was set at 19 March 2009 with 10 matches in planning before the Confederations Cup.

Transforming Doornfontein Station

The Doornfontein Station near Ellis Park stadium is beingtransformed into a a state-of-the-art hub, where commuters will arrive for football matches at Ellis Park Stadium.

Doornfontein Train Station is a stone's throw away from the Ellis Park Stadium

Work at Doornfontein Station is progressing well and work is expected to be completed before the Confederations Cup in June this year. The station is being transformed from an unpleasant structure into a double storey building.

According to site engineer, Letsatsi Ramookho the total cost of the project is R74 million with 88 workers currently on site.

"Extensions have been done to the platforms to bring them up to international standards. The platform was lifted to 910mm from the top of the rail lines to make them friendly to paraplegics."

The roof of the new station will be a masterpiece, according to Ramookho, who says it will be staggered, allowing natural light to filter in. "A big clock will be placed on the northern wall of the station facing the station precinct."

The calabash gets working on its pitch

The 91,000 seat Soccer City stadium, also known as the "calabash", has started preparing the ground for one of the most special football fields in world history. As the venue for the opening and final match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the pressure is on to prepare a pitch worthy of the occasion.

The roof structure is looking superb with its inner fabric layer, and glass inner edge. The facade of the venue is completely wrapped in cost effective fibre concrete tiles of six different colour variations producing a spectacular visual effect during the day and at night.

The most important venue of the world cup is comfortably on track to meet the FIFA deadline in October 2009, with major works complete within a few months.

Loftus is ready!

Loftus East new roof, Bulls vs Reds
Originally uploaded by Vark1

Preparations for the Confederations Cup in Pretoria remain on track as the city of Tshwane has confirmed that Loftus is ready for the tournament.

The ground hosted the league clash between champions SuperSport United and Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs on Saturday evening.

Loftus stadium has undergone a major revamp to meet FIFA's standards as it is set to host three Confed Cup matches in June, including the massive match between Italy and Brazil. The upgraded stadium includes a new roof over the eastern pavilion, an improved media centre as well as general refurbishments to all spectator areas.

4 down 6 to go!

Ellis Park: All systems go

Ellis Park, Bulls 16 vs Lions 9
Originally uploaded by Vark1

The revamped and refurbished Ellis Park stadium, venue of the historic 1995 Rugby World Cup final, will host a crucial league clash that should give an indication of its state of readiness for the Confederations Cup. The venue has already been in use for the last two weeks as a venue for Super 14 rugby clashes.

The 62 000-seater stadium has undergone a R500-million makeover ahead of the 2009 Confederations Cup and the 2010 World Cup, which included an additional tier at the north stand, a major new parking garage as well as improved spectators and VIP service areas. A major refurbishment of the Ellis Park precinct including landscaping works will continue to ensure a pleasant environment for all spectators.

Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates square off at the venue on Wednesday. The FIFA inspection team last week were pleased with the readiness of the venue which will host the opening and closing game of the Confederations Cup in just a few months.

The giraffe keeps rising against all odss

Despite its unfair share of strikes and mishaps including a crane falling over, completion before the mid Oct 09 FIFA inspection milestone is on track due to the early initial completion target of April 2009. Mbombela has had 5 months added to the contractual finish date to compensate for the strikes and weather.

Overlay for WC will start in April 2010 at this venue and all other World Cup venues. It will host 4 WC games on the 16, 20, 23 & 25 June, with the 23 June being the only night game. Mbombela is already proving to be a particularly popular stadium for the overseas visitors who are planning to include a game visit on their itinerary.

An on-site report of the progress:

- The main concrete bowl structure is 100%.
- Precast seating beams are 70% complete
- The roof structure is at 50%.
- 10 of 18 giraffe necks are up and 8 giraffe heads in place.
- The seat and roof sheeting installation will begin in March.

Of the new stadiums Mbombela is still on budget to meet its R760mill contract value.
The long overdue N4 by-pass around Nelspruit is progressing well. A further 3 road projects are on track for completion before WC. The water supply and electrical infrastructure upgrade for the broader area is underway.

This giraffe ( a reference to the 18 concrete roof supports) keeps rising and after a visit from the vice president this week, the Mbombela stadium remains in a comfortable position moving towards the FIFA deadline.

Image credits: tadpolefarm