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2010 World Cup

Mbombela Stadium

Mbombela Stadium (Nelspruit)

Capacity: 46 000
Budget: R875-million
Architect: RL Architects
Contractor: Basil Read/Bouygues JV
Start building: February 1, 2007
Target LOC/Fifa completion date: October 30, 2009
Scheduled completion date: March 15, 2009

2010 World Cup matches: Four first-round matches.

Details and progress: Mbombela Stadium has attracted some bad publicity, including criticism of the R1.45-million cost of a party thrown to celebrate the new stadium (Cape Town spent only R35 000 on a similar party). But it now appears the stadium will be delivered inside the budget allocated by the national treasury. At the time of going to Press, the venue for the third-place play-off had yet to be decided.

The City

Like Polokwane, Nelspruit is a popular tourist destination due to its close proximity to the Kruger National Park and Mozambique, which is only 100 kilometers to the east.

It has been dubbed the ‘Gateway to Mpumalanga’, and the Lowveld Botanical Gardens just outside of the town boasts a rare collection of plant species and the first man-made rain forests.

It is also home to the Emnotweni Casino, which is situated on the banks of the Crocodile River.

It was founded in 1905 by the three Nel brothers, who grazed their cattle in the area during the winter months. Agriculture still forms a major part of the area’s income today, along with manufacturing – major industries include canned fruit, furniture and timbermills.

Forum

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