|
2010 stadium a boost for Cape Town |
|
|
|
2010 stadium a boost for Cape Town
Tue, 04 Apr 2006
The proposed 65 000 seater stadium at the site of the Metropolitan Golf Course in Mouille Point has the potential to significantly increase international tourism — attracting further world-class events to Cape Town and boosting the economy along with local house prices.
So says Barak Geffen, Executive Director of Sotheby’s International Realty SA who feels that locals are unduly worried about the proposed development and should focus on the bigger macro-economic benefits of the project.
"South Africa is viewed by many upmarket tourists as a 'first-world' holiday destination, but we have a lot of work to do to attract a consistent stream of global celebrities, and large numbers of market influencers. It was Michelangelo that said that our greatest failure is not that we aim too high and fail to reach our goals, but rather that we aim too low and actually achieve them.
"Mouille Point, on the doorstep of the Waterfront and yacht basin is one of the most beautiful parts of the world which has the potential to become a 'mini-Monaco' attracting the crème de la crème of international visitors who will boost the local economy and raise SA’s international profile substantially.
CTICC a success story
"One just needs to look at the success story of the CTICC — many were sceptical about this development, especially in such a busy section of the city centre. There was definite concern as to whether SA would attract sufficient interest to sustain its use."
Geffen says within a few years, the CTICC has put Cape Town on the international conference location map — attracting an ongoing, world class stream of events along with foreign visitors who spend millions in foreign currency in our city during their stay on multiple goods and services, uplifting the entire Western Cape's disposable income.
"A 'super bowl' type stadium in an area such as Mouille Point would not only command the attention of the global sporting world, but it will attract the most sought-after musicians and entertainment events on a more frequent basis and will continue to pave the way for the upgrade of our city to that of truly first world, with all the amenities the global super rich expect."
"There will be a boost to the economy from locals as well, due to the increased demand that local sporting events could accommodate.
Infrastructure will need upgrading
"Obviously, retail and other infrastructure will need upgrading to cope with increased traffic and congestion but this can only benefit the greater Green Point/Mouille Point area, which is fairly run down in parts. The Green Point common, in particular, attracts a plethora of undesirables — an infrastructural overhaul will improve aesthetics and hopefully chase out the undesirable element.
"The stadium can set the path for the finalisation of the City Improvement initiative already under way, creating job opportunities for hundreds if not thousands of people.
He adds that officials should look at building at the site of the existing and rather run-down Green Point Stadium.
“For years this has been as eyesore within the area — an overhaul would be the best way forward and would appease local rate payers who are concerned about losing the golf course, which is regarded as one of the last remaining 'green lungs' in the suburb.
|
|
Last Updated ( Sunday, 16 April 2006 )
|
