“The Mandela Bay Development Agency [MBDA], established as the development arm of the municipality, with a specific mandate to facilitate tourism and infrastructure development, advertised a Request for Proposal [RFP] in April 2008.

“The municipality is calling for dynamic, professional and multi-disciplinary Stadium Operators to operate the new multi-purpose Stadium in Nelson Mandela Bay, which will be completed in March 2009,” said the municipalities Communications Director Roland Williams, Tuesday.

RFP is looking for an operator with thorough knowledge and experience of stadium management, including elements such as football, rugby and other sporting events.

The selected operator will need property development and national and international marketing experience to be successful in their bid for the multi use stadium.

Bid proposals consist of stipulations in respect of the development of the surrounding urban precinct.

Mr Williams said the municipality had received three bid proposals by the 25 July 2008 deadline.

Thebe Venue Management (Pty) Ltd; Access Facilities and Leisure Company; and Stadium Management South Africa, Port Elizabeth, are the three bids received.

“The MBDA and municipality will shortly commence evaluating the bids submitted and individual briefing sessions will be held with each bidder from September 2008 onwards.

“It is anticipated that the final preferred bidder will be selected towards the end of 2008 and the municipality aims to sign a management contract with the preferred bidder in the first quarter of 2009,” said Mr Williams.

The municipality’s Deputy Mayor Bicks Ndoni said: “Nelson Mandela Bay is the first host city to have made significant progress in the appointment of a stadium operator for not only the 2010 FIFA World Cup, but also from a future legacy impact point of view.

“Although Nelson Mandela Bay is well-geared to host a successful 2010 World Cup tournament in Nelson Mandela Bay, it is also of vital importance that an operator is appointed to ensure that the stadium is a prominent contributor to the growth of the municipality.”

On the 8th of July 2008 the 2010 FIFA World Cup Local Organising Committee (LOC) took a decision to drop Nelson Mandela Stadium as one of the stadiums to be used for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup.

Speaking at the South African Football Association House in July, LOC Chairperson Dr Irvin Khoza said: "We acknowledge the progress that has been made on the Nelson Mandela Bay stadium in recent months.

"With the complex nature of the construction and erection of the roof of the stadium, however, it was decided that it would be too high a risk to keep the stadium in the FIFA Confederations Cup schedule.”

Earlier this year, Mr Khoza said the LOC was closely monitoring all the FIFA Confederations Cup stadiums and that if there was a chance that any of them would not be ready, they would be removed from the strict schedule.


Read more on 2010 FIFA World Cup and 2009 Confederation Cup.

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