Fan Parks & Walks

Fan Parks in Cape Town

The official fan park in Stuttgart, Germany, 2006

Even if you can’t get tickets to the live stadium games, it doesn’t mean you will miss out on the thrills or being part of the excited crowds. At the heart of Cape Town lies the Grand Parade. The publicly owned site will be roaring with soccer chanting as the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ kicks off.

This year will see Cape Town setting up dedicated fan parks for games based in Cape Town and the other stadiums around South Africa. Fans will be able to enjoy the crowd atmosphere while watching the games on large screens, as they did during the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

The 2010 FIFA World Cup™ fan walk

The fan parks are linked directly to the bus, taxi and pedestrian routes, so the ride or walk there will be just as enjoyable as the actual game.

Grand Parade, with a capacity of 28 000, will be the main Cape Town fan park for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. Entry to Grand Parade will be free of charge and it will be open from 10h00 until midnight on match days, broadcasting all 64 matches live. It will be within a secure, fenced area. Food and beverages will be available for purchase within the fan park and additional entertainment will be provided between matches. 

Grand Parade will have a fan walk running from Cape Town Station through to Riebeeck Street and Somerset Road, all the way to Cape Town Stadium. Another walk will be the pedestrian boulevard, linking fans to all the main soccer attractions. Running along the Granger Bay Boulevard, it links the Green Point Circle to the V&A Waterfront.

Grand Parade is historically significant for South Africans, as it was the venue for Nelson Mandela’s first speech immediately following his release from prison in February 1990.

Other public viewing areas are:

• Athlone Civic (with a capacity of 2000)
• Bellville Velodrome (with a capacity of 8000)
• Swartklip Sport Complex (with a capacity of 2000)
• Oliver Tambo, Khayelitsha (with a capacity of 7000)

Grand Parade will be the main Cape Town fan park for the World Cup

There will be plenty of entertainment before and after matches, with Cape Town’s best artists and international performers keeping your spirits high, regardless of how your team performs on the day.

If you are travelling, fan parks will also be set up elsewhere in the Western Cape, and you’re sure to find a television tuned to the latest match in every restaurant, bar and shopping mall in the region.

So, whether you’re lucky enough to have a ticket to a match or you’re watching the game with thousands of other supporters at the Cape Town fan park, the stage truly is set for an unforgettable 2010 FIFA World Cup™.

Attractions within walking distance

Photo courtesy Brian Snelson aka exfordy

If you come out of the fan park still brimming with energy, why not take a walk to some of Cape Town’s main attractions?

The historic Bo-Kaap, with its brightly coloured houses, is the spiritual home of the Cape’s Muslim community, and visiting this area is a great way to see a different side of Cape Town.

The District Six Museum tells the history of a community that was forcibly removed in the apartheid era. It gives powerful insight into South Africa’s history.

The V&A Waterfront is a great place to celebrate after your team has won. With so many bars and restaurants, you’ll be spoilt for choice.

For further information on the fan park regulations in South Africa, please contact: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Training venues

Cape Town boasts a plethora of training venues, from university fields to school and sports club grounds and various stadiums. The officially selected training venues (Athlone Stadium and Philippi Stadium) for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ are located in disadvantaged areas. The majority of these communities are ardent football fans, and the turnout to watch open training sessions is sure to be massive. Teams practising in Cape Town will enjoy a significant following and enjoy the privilege of being a part of a lasting legacy through their involvement in improving local infrastructure. And they will make a lasting impression by interacting with the local communities!

Long-term plans

Once the last fan has left, the Grand Parade will not gather dust. It will be transformed into a multifunctional entertainment area, hosting sporting events, music festivals and food festivals.