FIFA World Cup 2010 stadium gets R236 million facelift and zipline

7 Views

The iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban is set for a R236 million upgrade in the hopes of making it a premier tourist destination.

Add a little magic to your every day with Betway by discovering a world of casino games

A refurbished viewing platform, all-new sky car and a zipline are all part of the planned upgrades that eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba detailed on Thursday.

The city council recently gave the go-ahead for the extensive refurbishment project.

It represents the biggest revamp of the stadium since it opened ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

‘Major sporting events’

Xaba says the upgrade is part of a “routine maintenance programme” to ensure it remains world class and continues to attract major sporting events.

The multipurpose basket-shaped stadium is a regular host of major local Premier Soccer League finals, and is situated across the road from Hollywoodbets Kings Park, home of the Sharks.

This year – and not for the first time – Moses Mabhida Stadium hosted the MTN8 final between Orlando Pirates and Stellenbosch FC which was attended by a sold-out 60 000 fans.

“We want to assure all our stakeholders that the venue is structurally sound, and it will continue to host major events while the repairs are ongoing,” added Xaba.

The planned new features include:

A new viewing platform with a 60% increase in floor area and cantilevered glass floor to create an ‘airwalk’ experience;
A new sky car with increased travel time, which will also be accessible to people with disabilities;
A new big swing for bungee jumping, with improved access to the launch platform;
A new zipline that ends at the People’s Park for after-adventure refreshments; and
A compression ring walk, which provides panoramic views with a sea-facing bungee jump option.

The upgrades will also include improvements to the arch and bowl lighting with reinstated arch lighting and option for colour-themed lighting.

“We have no doubt these upgrades will not only guarantee the commercial viability of the stadium, but they will also improve the safety of residents and visitors,” said the mayor.

“This is in line with our vision of building resilient infrastructure that is aligned with evolving technological advancements,” he added.

The refurbishments are expected to be ready for the 2025 festive season.