Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Cape Town gears up for massive U2 concert

The City of Cape Town is pulling out all the stops to prepare for the largest event ever hosted at Cape Town Stadium – a concert by Irish rock group U2, which will see at least 72 000 fans stream into the facility next Friday night.
U2 will be the first band to stage a major concert in the new stadium.
In order to manage the crowd, the City is implementing its finely-tuned and highly successful 2010 FIFA World Cup™ operational plans, which will see the Fan Walk re-opened, the same road closures implemented, and extended and free public transport offered to ticket holders.
However, this time it doesn’t look like vuvuzelas will be allowed into the stadium, if Big Concert, the organiser, has its way.
The logistics of the concert, which is just one in the band’s global ‘360° tour’ alone are staggering: 150 containers filled with equipment will be brought to Cape Town by 100 trucks after the Johannesburg concert on 13 February, while a unique stage weighing 200 tons and stretching 50 metres into the air will be erected on the pitch.
Due to the massive stage and the fact that over 17 000 concertgoers will be standing on the pitch, the organisers took the decision to remove the pitch down to the sand base, as it was not possible to adequately protect it, and the grass would have died had it been covered by protective covering.
The grass pitch has already been lifted, at the cost of the organisers, and the field will be fumigated and replanted with rye grass after the concert. There are no fixtures planned for the next few months, and the pitch will be ready again for play in May.
The U2 concert crew consists of more than 300 people, and they will spend about R2-million with local suppliers, boosting the local economy, says Big Concerts. Up to 3,000 local workers have also been employed to assist the crew.
Transport arrangements
Concertgoers are urged not to drive to the stadium, as there will be no public parking in the vicinity. Illegally-parked vehicles will be towed away.
Fans can use a number of free public transport services on presentation of a valid concert ticket. Normal public transport will also be supplemented, and Metrorail will run additional trains after the event ends.
The popular Fan Walk, between the Cape Town Station and Cape Town Stadium, will be operational, as will the Stadium Shuttle from the Civic Centre. This will operate from 14:00 and the last shuttle will leave the stadium at 01:00.
Parking is free at the following Park-and-Rides at or near rail stations. Station operational hours and security have also been extended.
* Athlone – east of the station
* Brackenfell – either side of the station with access from both Old Paarl Road and Brackenfell Boulevard
* Claremont – off Palmyra Road, east of the station
* Kuils River – either side of the station with access off New Nooiensfontein Drive or from Van Riebeek Road off Station Road
* Mitchells Plain – at the station off Hazeldene Avenue
* Ottery – either side of the station but primarily on the eastern side, off Panton Road
* Retreat – west of the station with access off Main Road
* Strand – at the station or across the road at the municipal offices
There will be a nominal parking fee at these Park-and-Rides:
* Oostersee – at the station (free parking) off Mike Pienaar Boulevard in Oostersee Street and on the Settlers High school fields
* Goodwood – at GrandWest with access to the rail station via the Casino
* Century City – at Ratanga Junction with a free shuttle service to the station
* Fish Hoek – at the station (free parking), with additional parking at the eastern end of the beach parking area
The bus shuttle Park-and-Rides will also be operational, namely:
* Kronendal Primary School at the sports field off Andrews Road in Hout Bay (nominal parking fee)
* On-street at Maiden’s Cove or in the municipal parking area off Victoria Road in Camps Bay
* University of Cape Town (UCT) Upper Campus in Rondebosch
The first buses will depart from UCT at 14:00, and the last return shuttle will depart at 01:00.
“The best way to avoid congestion and frustration is to leave early and to use public transport,” said the City’s Manager for Transport Network Operations, Peter Sole.

Transport information

For comprehensive and up-to-date transport information contact the City’s 24/7 Transport Information Centre on 0800 65 64 63, toll free from a landline or public pay phone.
Concert facts
* The U2 concert is on Friday 18 February 2011
* Support acts are the Springbok Nude Girls and Mariam & Amadou
* Gates open at 16:30, with the main act at 21:15
* For information about the concert, visit Computicket or the Big Concerts Facebook page, which contains all concert-related questions and answers

source : http://www.capetown.gov.za/

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