Joburg plans tented city for World Cup
The northern suburbs of Joburg have taken World Cup concerns about high-priced accommodation to heart with a tented city in the works.
Tent City, to be erected at Waverley Park, comes hot on the heels of the converted container hotel slated for the Houghton Golf Course.
The facility is set to open from June 4 to July 16, and there are already bookings from countries including Argentina, Denmark, Brazil and Australia.
The project was commissioned by the City of Joburg.
Consultant Barry MacKay, who brought the idea to life, said they had already met with the ward councillor, and a community meeting was scheduled for tonight.
"We're testing a number of prototypes for tents, and there will be a floor - either wood or interlocking PVC tiles. Also, we'd like to avoid any hazardous heating devices, so we're looking at channelling heat from solar power into the tent," said MacKay.
He is in the final stages of talks with an empowerment partner, which is expected to cover the cost of the venture.
Apart from those watching the games on TV screens at the tented city, organisers plan to have daily entertainment in the form of bands and DJs, and are planning to set up five-a-side pitches for the guests.
The standard accommodation consists of gender-specific heated tents with steel-frame beds, mattresses, pillows and bedding, as well as a safe.
The site will have restaurants and self-catering facilities.
Access will be controlled, while a fleet of more than 100 buses, running 24 hours, will ferry guests to World Cup or entertainment destinations.
Standard accommodation starts at e30 (about R314), with extras such as bedding or smaller communal quarters pushing up the price to more than e60.
"Our booking strategy is that we're targeting tour operators, who get a 30 percent discount," said MacKay.
Although most of the enquiries have been for quotes, he expected sales to pick up dramatically after the fourth round of ticket sales. MacKay said the accommodation would also suit locals.
At the end of February they intend to start preparing the grounds at Waverley Park, with the entire park closed to the public from April 1.
As a lasting legacy post-World Cup, the company will renovate the Boy Scout building. In addition, the park will get lighting to make the facility safer and usable at night, as well as new gardens and fountains.
The company will also build a bicycle track stretching from the park to the nearby Norwood Mall.
Posted at 09:10AM Feb 16, 2010 by Editor in Residential |