The City of Cape Town estimates that an astounding 350 000 people visited the Cape Town Central City area on Friday 11 June to watch the World Cup Opening Ceremony and Bafana Bafana-Mexico game on TV and to attend the opening match at the CT Stadium, with 250 000 in the CBD and 100 000 at the V&A Waterfront.
The fact that so many people could visit the city centre and party peacefully without any serious incidents is tribute to years of planning and preparation by a range of public and private roleplayers.
City’s report back following first World Cup match at Cape Town Stadium
“The first 2010 FIFA World Cup™ match at the Cape Town Stadium took place yesterday, 11 June 2010. No major incidents were reported and fans came out in true South African and Cape Town style and had a good jol.
All of the City’s key fan venues proved immensely successful, with celebrations continuing late into Friday night. There were no major incidents reported at any City venues, despite the fact that approximately 350 000 people visited the city centre.
An alien at the Grand Parade Fan Fest (picture: Anita Van Zyl)
This event was the largest yet at the Cape Town Stadium, with 64 100 people in attendance. Regardless of the number of fans in the stadium, noise levels as measured in decibels remain the same.
France vs Uruguay. Forgettable football, unforgettable occasion
The near-full capacity at the stadium provided the City with an ideal opportunity to test its public transport infrastructure for a large event. The City would like to thank residents for heeding the City’s advice to use public transport to travel to the city centre. Approximately 20 000 fans came into the city via rail and the bus-based Park-and-Ride service was very well utilised.
Over 11 000 spectators used the MyCiTi shuttle to get to the stadium, while the City’s fan walk also proved popular with 20 000 eager fans walking to the stadium on this route. Other ticket holders walked to the stadium from the V & A Waterfront or other areas in the city.
The new MyCiti 'bendy bus' in action
The City’s Transport Information Centre, which is available 24 hours a day and seven days a week, took 12 000 calls on 11 June. The call-centre’s number is 0800 65 64 63.
The City’s new Transport Management Centre in Goodwood was well utilised and proved a very important tool for the City in managing multiple sites in Cape Town. There are still some improvements to be made to the City’s public transport system, but important lessons were learnt yesterday, and these will be kept in mind for Monday’s event.
The FIFA Fan Fest™ proved extremely popular, reaching capacity just over an hour after it opened. A total of 42 000 people visited the Fan Fest throughout the course of the day. The crowd was kept constant in the Fan Fest and more spectators were allowed access as others left. There were no major security incidents or serious injuries sustained.
Fan Fest, Grand Parade (picture: Anita Van Zyl)
In order to ensure safety as people emerged from pubs and restaurants after watching the opening match, Long Street was closed to vehicular traffic between Wale and Orange Street. Various other roads in the city centre were closed as and when they were needed to ensure smooth traffic flow and the safety of spectators.
Members of the CCID job creation team putting final touches to the Strand Street Concourse area
A CCID job squad member helps to decorate St George's Mall
The City’s four fan jols were well utilised, and all reached capacity by 16:00 on Friday. The City would like to encourage residents to utilise the fan jols near them, as the FIFA Fan Fest™ tends to fill up very quickly. Fan jols are open from 11:00 – 23:00 and entrance is free. They are open on Cape Town match days, all Bafana games, the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final game days. There is also a wide variety of entertainment and food stalls, so spectators can experience the World Cup atmosphere without having to come into the city centre.
Fan Fest, Grand Parade (picture: Anita Van Zyl)
Fan Fest, Cape Town (picture: Anita Van Zyl)
The V & A Waterfront also proved a popular venue, peaking at approximately 100 000 people. Another 250 000 people gathered in the city centre, at the fan walk, FIFA Fan Fest™, as well as areas around the Fan Fest, restaurants, and pubs.
Enjoying the Heerengracht
The outdoor zebra sculptures proved to be hugely popular
Fans coming to watch a game at the Cape Town Stadium are advised to try and get there as early as possible. Gates open 3.5 hours before kick-off, and the public are urged to arrive early. This will aid in preventing congestion when entering the stadium. Fans are reminded that when attending a match at the stadium they should travel light. Access to the stadium often takes longer to process if people have a large number of items like handbags and rucksacks with them. In addition, do not bring an umbrella with you at it is a banned item at the stadium.
A strong and well-organised security presence ensured that people attending the various events were kept safe
Capetonians are reminded to please use the supplements distributed in the press and across the city for further information and check the City of Cape Town’s website, www.capetown.gov.za for regular updates.
The City would like to thank Capetonians and visitors for the wonderful spirit shown yesterday.”
Issued by: Communication Department, City of Cape Town. Media enquiries: Pieter Cronje, Director: Communication and 2010 Spokesperson, City of Cape Town, Tel: 021 400 4592, Cell: 082 465 4965; Kylie Hatton, Manager: Media, City of Cape Town, Tel: 021 400 4684, Cell: 082 874 4605
Vuvuzela-proof earplugs sold out in the city on Friday
