S TA D I U M MANAGEMENT SA
STADIUM MANAGEMENT SOUTH AFRICA
SMSA Continues to Pull
in the Crowds PRODUCTION: Timothy Reeder
Stadium Management South Africa (SMSA) is a multi-award winning and internationally decorated business, that continues to earn recognition in South Africa and beyond. It manages the FNB, historic Orlando, Dobsonville and Rand flagship stadiums in the Metropolitan of Johannesburg, and possesses collectively more than 60 years of experience in the events, master planning, construction, sports and venue management industries.
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INDUSTRY FOCUS: PROPERTY
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SMSA independently funds the commercial business of its multi-purpose, adaptable venues which are capable of hosting world-class events in the sports and entertainment industries, as well as conferences and political rallies. Management of these multi-million Rand venues entails the provision of services in various industries, including finance and commerce, via sponsorship, advertising, retail, stakeholder return and investment, operations and facilities management and event planning. Russell Tindale, formerly Commercial Strategic Manager of SAIL and currently of Group Africa Marketing, described a company which is, “extremely dedicated to ensuring that any and all events taking place under their auspices are a resounding success. The team is focused in making commercial success in each element of its business.” Accordingly, 2017 has seen a continuation of Stadium Management South Africa’s excellence being acknowledged across the spectrum of its operations. Such was the fervour at the FNB Stadium for the 2016 Carling Black Label Champion Cup, it has been shortlisted for the highly sought-after fan experience of the year award. SMSA is up against noteworthy events which include football fan experiences at Liverpool and Glasgow Celtic, and basketball franchises Sacramento Kings and Utah Jazz. The Stadium Business Awards recognise leadership, innovation and achievement in the delivery, operation and management of sports facilities globally. A further nomination for SMSA this year is in the Business Triumph and European (EBA) Awards for outstanding achievements in the field of corporate social responsibility, international relations, economics, politics, science and social activities. In recent months SMSA has received the Arch of Europe
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Trophy, and placed in the platinum category in the 2017 IAE Award, with the company internationally recognised as a driving force for quality and excellence. The most recent Rugby World Cup in England underlined the power of the sport to inspire interest and secure profitability, setting new standards commercially and in global viewing figures and tournament attendance numbers. If successful in its bid, South Africa 2023 would be the most profitable in the tournament’s history, with South Africa’s Bid Book projecting a record 2.9 million tickets to be sold and culminating in the biggest ever world cup final in stadium attendance. South Africa already ranks among the most enticing tourist destinations globally, and the bid places primary importance on South Africans and their ability to experience the sixweek rugby festival. With the country’s people having demonstrated their undeniable and infectious love of sport during the 2010 FIFA World Cup, South African Rugby Union’s Chief Executive Jurie Roux spoke of the important economic benefits which a South Africa-based competition would bring. “We (in South Africa) are able to produce the tournament at 50% of the cost of any of the European bids. If you look at price parity, we are one third of Europe. In other words, a tourist will be able to come to South Africa for three weeks for the equivalent cost of one week in Europe.” South Africa has a strong proven record of hosting such events, including the Rugby World Cup tournament in 1995 as well as the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Last month, Sport and Recreation Minister Thulas Nxesi said a lot of technical work is being done before a high-level South African delegation will make its bid presentation in London. “There will still be stages where [we] have to go
and present, that’s why we have put [together] a very solid bid… Our bid is an economic bid. It must be well researched with information from us as government [and] from the side of SARU [SA Rugby Union],” Minister Nxesi said at a media briefing in Cape Town. Despite repeatedly showing itself to be a country with an unquenchable thirst for sport, a lament currently often heard in South Africa surrounds the lack of soccer fans attending matches in the highest tier of the South African game, namely its Premier Soccer League (PSL). This is not a new phenomenon, with Sports editor for Times Media Group Digital Mninawa Ntloko stating: “It has been happening for many moons now.” Reputations of weekly domestic matches have been dogged by reports of poor safety, insufficient seating and parking, lack of family-friendliness, excessive drinking and expensive food stalls. SMSA would of course reap the benefits of a successful Rugby World Cup bid, and its wealth of experience is also helping soccer to turn the corner towards increased popularity. Mickey Modisane, Public Relations Officer of Orlando Pirates Football Club, gave his own personal testimony to the quality of service SMSA offers. “Since the revamp of Soccer City, the current stadium management has been excellent in relation to working with us at Orlando Pirates Football Club. From a public relations perspective to our hospitality team, technical team and all our areas of operations we have always worked extremely well and relationships have been great.” This was a sentiment echoed in recent years by Professor Ronnie Schloss of the Premier Soccer League: “On behalf of the Premier Soccer League, I wish to thank you and your team for helping to make 2013/2014 season a resounding success. Whether it was at FNB, Orlando or
STADIUM MANAGEMENT SOUTH AFRICA
Dobsonville Stadiums the team was always there to help and go the extra mile to assist in making the event a safe and enjoyable occasion.” Having established itself as the leading stadium management company in South Africa due to a sustainable, profitable and successful business model following the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa, SMSA will place a greater focus moving forward on the consulting side of its business. The team at its core receives constant requests from various sports organisers as well as local, provincial and national government bodies across the globe to consult and assist with their business plans and help them achieve similar successes and growth. Stadium Management Consulting strives to deliver solutions that allow its clients to maximise opportunities
for their venues or events, by leveraging all available channels to produce clear and tangible benefits. Behind its operations is a team of highly qualified, experienced and knowledgeable individuals capable of producing results and solutions for either the short-term or long-term, through an extensive list of service offerings for clients in all corners of the globe. As Siyanda Mnukwa, Director of Sports and Recreation and Community Development of the City of Johannesburg concludes, SMSA provides the ideal partner whatever the end goal. “Never invest in any kind of relationship with a company that is not willing to work on itself just a little every day,” he begins. “A company that takes no interest in self-improvement, personal development and growth will also
not be inclined to make much of an effort in building a truly meaningful connection with the other partner. A relationship with only one partner willing to do the work ceases to be a relationship. The partnership between the City of Johannesburg and Stadium Management South Africa can only be described as an anathema to this. SMSA has evolved as a company, has contributed to community development, provides a service to the city and still searches for meaningful contributions and opportunities.”
SMSA 0861 STADIUM enquiries@stadiummanagement.co.za www.stadiummanagement.co.za
PROUD SUPPORTERS OF STADIUM MANAGEMENT SA Servest is an award winning landscaping and turf construction and maintenance business. We offer world class turf playing surfaces for sport facilities, golf courses, athletic stadiums, soccer and rugby fields, netball and tennis courts, bowling greens and cricket pitches.
Our key projects include the prestigious Metropolitan Golf Course and a number of the 2010 Soccer World Cup stadiums including the Orlando Stadium in Soweto the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, the Peter Mokaba
Stadium in Polokwane and the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit. We have a national infrastructure and offer our clients a turnkey service which includes design and layout, bulk earthworks, final shaping, grassing and irrigation. Using the latest technology and leveraging our European partnerships we ensure that our clients get an unrivalled product which is certified by FIFA and the International Hockey Federation (FIH)
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AFRICA
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR AFRICA’S INDUSTRY LEADERS
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Issue No.63
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TRANSNET PORT TERMINALS
Making SA Ports
World Class Exclusive Interview with
Nozipho Sithole
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
SANSA / Imperial Holdings / Select PPE / Matus
A S F E AT U R E D I N
ENTERPRISE AFRICA
OCTOBER 2017