Cape Town Fan Walk great success

It turns out that one of the main attractions on Cape Town 2010 FIFA World Cup match days is the pedestrian amble known at the Host City Cape Town Fan Walk.Says Cape Town Partnership’s 2010 Project Coordinator and the Host City’s Fan Walk Project Manager, Carola Koblitz: ‘We originally said we would be happy if 15 000 people walked to the Cape Town Stadium and ecstatic if we had 18 000 in total. We never expected to see as many as 60 000 people using the Fan Walk per hour in its peak on Friday 11 June and even yesterday, during the wet and cold weather, we probably chalked up over 20 000!’

And it has become apparent that it’s not only stadium ticket holders that are walking the route, but curious fans just hoping to soak up the ambience and entertainment along the way. The walk has proved to be such a hit, it even received a 9 out of 10 rating in a popular weekend newspaper, which described the Host City Cape Town Fan Walk as ‘… safe, entertaining and probably the most fun way to get to the stadium.’

Photo © CODA

Event Organiser of the Host City Cape Town Fan Walk, Celebrity Services Africa Events, has pulled out all the stops to make the stroll a memorable occasion and have lined the 2.5-km route with a variety of vendor kiosks and street entertainment ranging from buskers and minstrels, to jazz bands, rappers, opera singers and solo artists belting out the blues. The entire route is also transformed come sundown as light shows play off buildings, a 6-metre vuvuzela blows a 3-metre flame, and those eager for a photo opportunity pose in and around the memorable artworks that have been erected for the event at the half-way point at St Andrew’s Square.

A highlight of each Cape Town match day is also a parade (even on rainy days!) which runs from St Andrews Square to the Cape Town Stadium, beginning 90 minutes prior to kick-off. The route starts at Exchange Place on St George’s Mall (opposite the Cape Town Station) and runs along Waterkant Street, over Buitengraght Street, onto St Andrews Square and finally along Somerset Road and Main Road, Green Point before it reaches the Stadium precinct. Kiosks begin operating six hours before kickoff and entertainment begins five hours before kickoff.

For more information on the Host City Cape Town Fan Walk or images of the activities en route, please contact Carola Koblitz at 021 419 1881 or email carola@capetownpartnership.co.za