FNB Stadium stays, but Soccer City remains in public domain

On Wednesday, 1 December 2010, the Supreme Court of Appeal upheld FNB's right to name the main stadium at the Soccer City Complex. However, the court amended the order granted by the lower court on 11 August 2010 and has restricted the bank's entitlement is restricted to affixing naming boards or the like at all outer perimeter entrances and exits of the main stadium.

3 Dec 2010

National Stadium, Stadium Management SA and the City of Johannesburg have been restrained, for the duration of the servitude, from affixing naming boards displaying a name other than FNB Stadium and selling or disposing of the right to put up boards displaying any other name for the stadium.

Jacques Grobbelaar, chief executive of Stadium Management South Africa (SMSA), which appealed the decision of the lower court, says, "We respect the decision of the Court and are relieved that the original court order has been amended, by deleting the obligation imposed on National Stadium, Stadium Management SA and the City of Johannesburg to refer to the stadium as FNB Stadium in the normal course of our business."

Grobbelaar says SMSA had hoped to retain the name Soccer City for the complex, which became a renowned global brand as a result of the World Cup, in addition to being the name anecdotally preferred by the people of the city and sports fans.

"We are extremely happy that SMSA, the public, our clients and the media are not obliged to promote the name, in the course of the business. What makes this interesting is that FNB may not latch onto the goodwill of SMSA, nor may they pass our business off as theirs. We will continue to use the name Soccer City in referring to the complex as well as in advertising and promotions for our business and events."