News South Africa

World Cup on giant screen, without vuvuzelas

Sun International has made 3000 seats available at the GrandWest Grand Arena, free of charge, at what it claims to be the biggest screen in Cape Town. Visitors can watch in a heated indoor facility that is also vuvuzela free.

At 180m2 (18m x 10m), the HD screen boasts superior sound as it is played through the full sound system usually used for large music concerts.

The general access seating area is limited to the upper mezzanine level and entry is free. Right of admission is reserved and entry will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. Seats on the main floor and on the lower mezzanine levels have been reserved for GrandWest's regular customers.

Refreshments will be on sale, as will official FIFA 2010 World Cup paraphernalia.

A 24-hour destination

In addition to the Grand Arena, matches are screened live at the Supersport Arena, as well as on screens in the smoking and non-smoking casino floors. As a 24-hour destination, football fans can celebrate or commiserate at any of the pubs on the complex or at Hanover Street nightclub. For a quieter experience they can visit the several restaurants or see a cabaret performance at the Roxy Revue Bar.

Visitors based in the CBD can travel through to GrandWest by getting the GrandWest shuttle bus at the Cape Sun, Protea Victoria Junction Hotel, Cape Royale Hotel, Radisson Hotel, Table Bay Hotel, Victoria & Alfred Hotel, CTICC and the Westin Grand Hotel. The shuttle travels between GrandWest and these hotels every day between 11am and 1.30am, except on Cape Town match days when the service will not operate. For further information call 0800 65 64 63.

Park-and-ride facilities

GrandWest is one of the largest rail based park-and-ride facilities positioned next to a Metrorail station. The company has set aside an additional 1000 parking bays for this purpose, bringing to 2500 the total number of bays available on complex.

Football fans can park in the designated area, walk through the complex and exit at the Welcome Centre, from where a short walk will take them to the Goodwood train station. A tent has been erected outside the Welcome Centre and people are welcome to purchase refreshments on the way.

Anyone in possession of a match ticket will not be required to pay for either the train trip to the CBD or the shuttle service from Cape Town station to the stadium, which is provided by the City of Cape Town.

Let's do Biz