Visitors Centre

THE Moses Mabhida Stadium Visitors’ Centre brings the city’s newest icon to its citizens by keeping them in touch with plans and progress ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup^TM.

Visitors to the centre (for which there is no entry fee) will be able to watch construction from the upper viewing deck and gain background information on the stadium design and construction, as well as on Durban’s other 2010 plans.

Visitors will be presented with user-friendly panels, graphics and photographs providing details on a number of aspects of the stadium development. One set of panels provides information on the city’s event-led development strategy and its physical home, the Kings Park Sporting Precinct. The background motivation and rationale behind the stadium design are outlined in another set of panels, together with photographs showing the construction progress of the stadium. Other panels provide information on the economic benefits of the stadium construction and the range of skills that come together to deliver on a large construction project such as this one. A history of Moses Mabhida, who died in exile on 08 March 1986, also provides a personality behind the namesake.

Julie-May Ellingson, who heads Durban’s Strategic Projects Unit and the city’s preparations for 2010, said that the information centre is an important communication channel where the city can provide residents and visitors to the city with information about 2010 plans.   

Ellingson explained that, whilst the centre is freely open to all, a special focus had been put on providing information that was suitable for school children. This brings the stadium and other development plans closer to those who will reap the greatest level of benefits from the massive investment in the city. She said that the centre will make construction and development more comprehensible to the youth and will also provide them with information on the range of careers offered in this sector. Schools will be encouraged to bring pupils to the centre to share in the excitement of the build up to 2010.

Ellingson remarked, “The centre that you see today is only the first phase of this exciting project.  Future expansions will include the provision of exciting construction and soccer related activities which will provide first-hand experience of these issues to the citizens of Durban.  Our aim is to update the centre on a regular basis, so that people will enjoy a different experience each time they visit.”  

The R2,6bn stadium being constructed as a key venue for the 2010 FIFA World Cup^TM soccer tournament, will become a symbol for Durban, highlighting the city’s ability to host international sporting events. It will also leave a legacy that promotes multi-disciplinary sporting codes including soccer, rugby and athletics.

As the backbone for the new Kings Park Sporting Precinct, the stadium is designed to be a multi-functional, hard-working and easy-to-maintain asset for Durban, from which every resident and rate payer can benefit.

The creation of the precinct means that Durban will be one of the few African cities able to host most of the Olympic disciplines within a single sporting zone. By hosting major sporting and other events, the city aims to attract investment and increase employment in terms of the “2010 and beyond” economic development strategy adopted in 2005.

In opening the facility, eThekwini mayor His Worship Obed Mlaba said, “The very successful 2010 FIFA World Cup Preliminary Draw has shown the world that Durban delivers. We are grateful for the tremendous progress made to date and our heartfelt thanks go to the thousands of workers, contractors, designers and members of our own team driving the process.  They all make us very proud. The opening of the Visitors’ Centre brings that excellent work closer to the residents and visitors of our city.”

City Manager Dr Michael Sutcliffe said: “Our stadium will be the most iconic of all of the new stadia - it is the only one which could host events such as the Commonwealth Games and Olympics, and it is named after a real hero of our country and continent.  This new centre not only allows residents and tourists to view progress in real time, but also allows everyone to learn about the complex and technologically-driven construction and design processes. As we move closer to 2010,  the Visitors’ Centre will become a hub, providing information on all 2010-related projects.”

Ellingson said that, in line with the event-led development strategy, Durban and the provincial government had proposed building the new stadium, as the current rugby facility was insufficient to accommodate FIFA’s semi-final requirements. The Moses Mabhida stadium will integrate a vast range of sports, commercial and retail activities, thus developing a new urban district where the stadium would play “a lively and essential role”.

The Visitors’ Centre, which has been designed for wheelchair friendliness, is open weekdays from 8:30am to 5pm and Saturdays 8am to 1pm. The facility is closed on public holidays and will be closed on 24^th and 31^st December.  Entry is free.  No appointments are required for individuals or small groups, but groups of over 10 people should make an appointment to visit the centre to avoid congestion.  Bookings may be made through Moi at the Strategic Projects Unit on 031 311 4720.