High hopes for Nujoma Stadium

THE Sam Nujoma Soccer Stadium is expected to generate a profit of N$1,8 million this financial year and N$2,1 million next year.

At its monthly meeting last week, the Windhoek City Council decided that it would manage the stadium itself – at least for the next two years. While tenders have already gone out for the maintenance of the stadium terrains and the two fields, Council will not immediately outsource its management.This follows a business plan developed by PricewaterhouseCoopers to determine the cost of operating the stadium and the fees to be charged for its use.The consultants recommended that the City should provide management, administrative and maintenance support for the stadium at least for the immediate future.City Spokesperson Liz Sibindi said on Tuesday that a team was already working on the inauguration of the stadium, which has tentatively been set for August.Construction was completed in March.Also at last week’s meeting, Council decided to rename the stadium from the Katutura Soccer Stadium to Sam Nujoma Stadium.The move has sparked a public outcry because “Katutura” has been dropped in the renaming.People calling the national radio’s Chat Show argue that the place name holds special historical significance.The renaming followed a proposal led by Deputy Mayor Elaine Trepper last year and supported by the Swapo Youth League.The Council has instructed the City to consider the viability of creating the position of Stadium Manager and that it be filled in the interim by an existing municipal employee.In accordance with the plan, the City Council will call for tenders for the cleaning of litter at the stadium after events and appoint a marketing and advertising agent for the stadium.With the maintenance of the stadium a major financial concern, it has been suggested that a maintenance fund be established which will require an annual cash injection of about N$1 million in present value monetary terms.It is estimated that maintenance and administration of the stadium will cost the Council about N$1,8 million a year.For this reason, the City will charge a 15 per cent levy on ticket sales.The use of the stadium for soccer matches will cost N$4 500.This includes the use of the parking areas and kiosks, but not the private area and committee room.Given that the City has spent N$64 million on its construction, Council is considering entering into partnerships with the Namibia Football Association (NFA) and individual clubs to ensure that the stadium is used fully.The staging of any event other than soccer will cost N$7 500.Schools, charitable and welfare organisations will be offered a 50 per cent discount to rent the stadium.Training fees have been set at N$200 a day, with an additional fee of N$100 an hour for the use of lights on the practice pitch.Using the main stadium lights will cost N$300 an hour.These fees will all be reviewed after six months in operation.Eighteen trading stalls are to be developed outside the stadium for informal traders at a fee of N$50 per event.These fees were calculated following comparative studies of the running of the Independence Stadium and others in the region.The business plan was developed by Price-waterhouseCoopers at a cost of N$226 920.While tenders have already gone out for the maintenance of the stadium terrains and the two fields, Council will not immediately outsource its management.This follows a business plan developed by PricewaterhouseCoopers to determine the cost of operating the stadium and the fees to be charged for its use.The consultants recommended that the City should provide management, administrative and maintenance support for the stadium at least for the immediate future.City Spokesperson Liz Sibindi said on Tuesday that a team was already working on the inauguration of the stadium, which has tentatively been set for August.Construction was completed in March.Also at last week’s meeting, Council decided to rename the stadium from the Katutura Soccer Stadium to Sam Nujoma Stadium.The move has sparked a public outcry because “Katutura” has been dropped in the renaming.People calling the national radio’s Chat Show argue that the place name holds special historical significance.The renaming followed a proposal led by Deputy Mayor Elaine Trepper last year and supported by the Swapo Youth League.The Council has instructed the City to consider the viability of creating the position of Stadium Manager and that it be filled in the interim by an existing municipal employee.In accordance with the plan, the City Council will call for tenders for the cleaning of litter at the stadium after events and appoint a marketing and advertising agent for the stadium.With the maintenance of the stadium a major financial concern, it has been suggested that a maintenance fund be established which will require an annual cash injection of about N$1 million in present value monetary terms.It is estimated that maintenance and administration of the stadium will cost the Council about N$1,8 million a year.For this reason, the City will charge a 15 per cent levy on ticket sales.The use of the stadium for soccer matches will cost N$4 500.This includes the use of the parking areas and kiosks, but not the private area and committee room.Given that the City has spent N$64 million on its construction, Council is considering entering into partnerships with the Namibia Football Association (NFA) and individual clubs to ensure that the stadium is used fully.The staging of any event other than soccer will cost N$7 500.Schools, charitable and welfare organisations will be offered a 50 per cent discount to rent the stadium.Training fees have been set at N$200 a day, with an additional fee of N$100 an hour for the use of lights on the practice pitch.Using the main stadium lights will cost N$300 an hour.These fees will all be reviewed after six months in operation.Eighteen trading stalls are to be developed outside the stadium for informal traders at a fee of N$50 per event.These fees were calculated following comparative studies of the running of the Independence Stadium and others in the region.The business plan was developed by Price-waterhouseCoopers at a cost of N$226 920.