ROAD TO 2010 - George Newton NMB Fan Fest & Fan Zone Manager

The 2010 FIFA Fan Fest™ at St George’s Park and the Fan Zone will not only provide 31 days of non-stop entertainment and activities for the whole family, it will also offer formal and informal traders, companies, artists and crafters the opportunity to promote and sell their products, services and talents.

The Fan Fest will serve as the destination for locals and tourists to view all 64 matches live on the biggest hi-tech screen in South Africa. Live national and local musical performances as well as interactive activities can be enjoyed free of charge on match days from 11 June to 11 July 2010, from 11am till late.

A limit of 25 000 people will be allowed into the Fan Fest, on a first-come-first-serve basis. However, the safety and security of people at the Fan Fest will be paramount and, as such, the limit on the number of people allowed in will be reduced if necessary. Fan Fest visitors will not be allowed to bring in food or alcohol, as both authorised formal and informal food and beverage traders will be operating within the Fan Fest area.

St George’s Park’s main field will be used for the Fan Fest sponsors’ exhibition, the main stage and the 75m² screen.

The B field will include third party exhibitions and five-a-side soccer arenas for tournaments including under 12, under 16 and open mens and ladies teams, additional food and beverage stands, a UNICEF Marquee, a Tourism Information Centre, tourism exhibition stalls, a ‘Craft in Action Marquee’, an African hand craft area as well as fan embassies for our foreign visitors.

Eastern Cape businesses will also have the opportunity to hire hospitality suites at the Duckpond and Centenary Pavilions, ten or eight seater tables at the Bojangles Club or tiered seating inside the Long Room.

The Fan Zone, comprising of Whites/Western Road, Donkin Street, Clyde and Parliament Street, Rink Street, St George’s Park and Govan Mbeki Avenue was established by the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro to afford the people of the Eastern Cape the opportunity to share in the local economic development that the World Cup has promised.

The aim is to create a carnival atmosphere with a balanced entertainment programme, combining all genres – from police bands and hip-hop artists to jazz, classical pop and cultural dance groups. Two stages within the Fan Zone will be constructed solely to expose local talent from the Eastern Cape. Furthermore, buskers and individuals with other unique talents - such as magicians, balloon artists or clowns - will be able to showcase their talents.

A non-stop shuttle service will transport people from various pick-up-points through the Fan Zone, taking in arts and culture, crafts, historical sites, restaurants and entertainment venues. Provision has also been made to transport people with disabilities.

Interest has exceeded expectations, with more than 1200 applications to trade or entertain having been received to date. These include a large contingent of crafters from throughout the province, food and beverage vendors as well as general traders. The application process will ensure that no unauthorized traders, ambush marketers or traders selling counterfeit goods will be able to operate in the Fan Zone or at St George’s Park (where Art in the Park is usually held).

With regards to food and beverages traders, the detailed application process will ensure all vendors comply with legal requirements i.e. the possession of valid health certificates.

No company or trader within the area can make use of any FIFA official trademark or modified variation that creates an unauthorized association with FIFA, for example: traders cannot sell “FIFA World Cup popcorn” or “FIFA World Cup 2010 hotdogs”.

Parking will be available at the Olympics Fields as well as at the designated Park ‘n Ride locations, such as the Kings Beach Hub, from where they can be transport to St George’s Park and back.

To ensure our visitors and residents enjoy an unforgettable experience, extensive security personnel and medical facilities will be present during the Fan Fest.