The Soccer City stadium built for the Soccer World Cup finals will cost between R25-million and R30-million per year to maintain.
“But that will not be a problem,” Barry Pollen, director of National Stadium Management SA said on Wednesday.
There are fears that some, if not all, of the new purpose-built stadiums for the recent World Cup would become white elephants.
“Not Soccer City,” Pollen told the South African Press Association.
“Soccer City will more than pay for itself. We have already secured 27 events for the stadium this year — and that is not counting the matches we staged here during the World Cup.
“We will have no problem in finding the R2-million plus per month to successfully run this venue and that goes for Orlando, Rand and Dobsonville Stadiums.”
Stadium Management SA, are contracted to manage Orlando Stadium, Dobsonville and the Rand Stadiums.
Pollen said the R2-million plus per month expenses cover not just the running of the stadium, but making sure the pitch and the interior of the stadium will always be in top condition.
He said Soccer City has become a multi-purpose venue and had been booked for not just soccer matches.
“We have the Telkom Charity Cup here on Saturday and 90 000 tickets have been sold for this annual Premier Soccer League season opener, we have booked the stadium for rugby matches, concerts, cultural and church events.
“We will also use Soccer City for conferences, birthday parties and other corporate events. There is no fear that Soccer City will become a white elephant … all new stadiums are built nowadays as
multi purpose venues.”
A judgement on the naming of Soccer City is expected to be made in the High Court in Johannesburg on Thursday. – Sapa