Windhoek City lowers soccer stadium tariffs

THE expensive leasing rates of the Sam Nujoma soccer stadium in Katutura will be lowered to make the sports complex more affordable for functions, the Windhoek City Council has decided.

Renting the stadium for soccer events will now only cost N$2 500 instead of the current N$4 500. For any other events like music shows, the tariff remains N$7 500.According to the agenda document for last Wednesday’s City Council meeting, “the City is highly disturbed by the level and degree of negative media reports spearheaded by some of our critical partners, despite our publicly stated resolve to review the tariffs.”It admitted, however, that the Namibia Football Association (NFA) and individual soccer clubs of the Namibia Premier League (NPL) had “on several occasions and in the media” complained about the high fees.The running costs for the stadium are currently N87 957 a month.In the same document it is revealed that in July 2005 a local company was appointed to market the stadium, but this was terminated after a short period.The Namibia Football Consortium, consisting of MTC, FNB and Namibia Breweries, also wanted preferential rates for advertising space in the stadium, which has not been approved yet.MTC then offered to advertise in the stadium for N$150 000 per month for three years.MTC even offered to consult with the three other Consortium members for joint advertising.”This has however not materialised yet, despite several follow-ups,” the agenda document noted.The last time the City wrote to MTC on the matter was in April this year.At one stage the City introduced a 15 per cent levy on ticket sales per event, but event organisers and soccer clubs voiced strong objections against this.The municipality noted that event organisers were cheating at the stadium gates to try and keep the numbers of visitors as low as possible to avoid the levy.Eventually the levy was stopped, since “determining and collecting outstanding levies has become a headache.”For any other events like music shows, the tariff remains N$7 500.According to the agenda document for last Wednesday’s City Council meeting, “the City is highly disturbed by the level and degree of negative media reports spearheaded by some of our critical partners, despite our publicly stated resolve to review the tariffs.”It admitted, however, that the Namibia Football Association (NFA) and individual soccer clubs of the Namibia Premier League (NPL) had “on several occasions and in the media” complained about the high fees.The running costs for the stadium are currently N87 957 a month.In the same document it is revealed that in July 2005 a local company was appointed to market the stadium, but this was terminated after a short period.The Namibia Football Consortium, consisting of MTC, FNB and Namibia Breweries, also wanted preferential rates for advertising space in the stadium, which has not been approved yet.MTC then offered to advertise in the stadium for N$150 000 per month for three years.MTC even offered to consult with the three other Consortium members for joint advertising.”This has however not materialised yet, despite several follow-ups,” the agenda document noted.The last time the City wrote to MTC on the matter was in April this year.At one stage the City introduced a 15 per cent levy on ticket sales per event, but event organisers and soccer clubs voiced strong objections against this.The municipality noted that event organisers were cheating at the stadium gates to try and keep the numbers of visitors as low as possible to avoid the levy.Eventually the levy was stopped, since “determining and collecting outstanding levies has become a headache.”