While entertaining some friends visiting from London, it seemed appropriate to take them to the see the new Green Point Stadium, currently under construction and due for completion in December of this year. The old stadium (or what’s left of it) is home to the Green Point Stadium Visitors Centre, where the 2010 Soccer Magic Tour takes place. If you have not been yet, I can thoroughly recommend it. Not just for the views of the new stadium, or the views of Green Point, the ocean and Table Mountain, but for a theatre experience with a difference.
We were treated to a 35 minute performance / one-man-show of the history of the Green Point Common (site of the stadium). Humerous, heartwarming and enlightening, whether you’re a local or a foreigner, an adult or a child. I’m not ashamed to admit that I was close to tears, had goose bumps and roared with laughter over the course of the show.
I’m not a huge soccer fan and had thought I would be bored visiting the stadium, but our storyteller reeled us all in, while recounting Cape Town’s colourful and at times tumultuous history, all told with soccer at its heart. Huge congratulations and thanks to this talented performer.
Besides the show, the Visitors Centre has a photo exhibition depicting soccer in South Africa through the ages, as well as the construction of the new 68,000-seater stadium which will host 8 of the world cup matches (including 1 quarter-final and 1 semi-final). The presentation about the stadium was short and sweet, and answered any questions we might have had.
In the words of one of our UK friends – “This was about so much more than football. It’s the history and coming together of a nation.”
Useful Links:
- Green Point Visitors Centre (the official site – has now been closed)
- Green Point Attractions
- Green Point Hotels
- Green Point Accommodation
- Cape Town Holiday Accommodation