Independent operators to take over most World Cup stadia

By Mark Gleeson

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Most of South Africa's new World Cup stadiums will be run by independent operators after the 2010 tournament to avoid becoming financial burdens.

The showpiece Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg and the newly built stadium in Cape Town have already appointed stadium operators while municipal authorities in Durban and Polokwane are to follow a similar route.

South Africa has built five new stadiums for the World Cup from June 11-July 11 next year and rennovated Soccer City.

Of the new venues, only Nelspruit has decided it will run its own stadium after the tournament.

The Johannesburg municipality has signed a 10-year contract with Stadium Management, a company which will look after the commercial viability of the 94,700-seater Soccer City stadium as well as two recent renovated venues in Soweto, which are to serve as World Cup training venues.

Soccer City will host both the opening match and final of the 2010 World Cup.

"It has been essential for all municipal authorities to appoint operators to make sure their venues are not white elephants," Jacques Grobler of Stadium Management told Reuters.

"We have to ensure a minimum number of events in all the stadiums on a full risk basis. We are obviously looking at soccer being the marquee tenants but also rugby, concerts and conferencing."