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Soccer City stays 'Soccer City'

Soccer City stays 'Soccer City'

Posted: 2010-07-29 17:04

Soccer City will remain 'Soccer City', until at least the first week in August.

The stadium's management company said in a statement released to Sapa today that the High Court will only make a decision on the naming rights on August 3.

The stadium was called FNB Stadium before the World Cup, referring to the main sponsor, First National Bank, but its name was changed to Soccer City as Fifa did not want corporate brand names in any of the World Cup stadiums' names.

FNB launched an urgent application at the High Court to keep the naming rights of the stadium, while National Stadium (Proprietary) Limited - part of Stadium Management SA - said it was granted the naming rights by the City of Johannesburg, after the company was appointed manager of the stadium.

"In the interim (until the court decision), we intend to use the name 'Soccer City', when referring to the stadium," said Brescia Bianco-Badenhorst, sales and marketing manager of Stadium Management SA.

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Proffesor: 2010-07-29 17:12

This Badenhorst is two-face… so why tickets for (Telkom Charity Cup & Rugby (SA vs. Australia) don’t have the name ‘Soccer City’ instead they writing 'National Stadium'. Can you interview him/her on that… Soccer City is a name in words manje not ku paper… who is fooling who here? nx!

Soccer Critic ( Tivani ): 2010-07-29 17:17

hehehe

nkosia : 2010-07-29 17:51

Who cares?Let them take each other head on but the end result it is our (football) stadium and we will fill it to the rafters when the situation demand so.At the end of the day though,National Stadium will be a good name as the nation and the world's eyes were there in 11 June and 11 July 2010 as Africa entered into the record books.

Jomo: 2010-07-30 09:12

To hell with National Stadium, Soccer City will always be the name we will be using as this name has been there from 1989 when the stadium was opened. Its the Gauteng Lions Rugby club that wants to influence this name change because they dont the Springboks to play their test match at the stadium that is associated with soccer. The irony about this is The Blue Bulls played at Orlando Stadium which is the mecca of Soccer & there was nothing wrong & Soccer has been played at Rugby stadium & soccer bosses didnt make noise about that. Australia is using the Melbourne Cricket Ground to play its Rugby games & no one says they cant play Rugby at a cricket stadium. This is just a company of whites who want to take over what was previously used by Africans & make it their own. They didnt have any interest in soccer & now that the world cup has put our soccer in the world map they want to come on board. Our Soccer administrators must now come on board & protect the history & the name of our beloved Soccer City. Viva Soccer City viva.

thivhu....: 2010-07-30 09:21

Sources close to the situation said Da Gama resigned in a huff as Celtic coach yesterday after an altercation with owner Ikie Augousti.

KaMashobana: 2010-07-30 09:29

I was hoping it could be named after our great grand son of the soil Nelson Mandela. Anywhere Soccer city sounds better than FNB.

K-lab: 2010-07-31 14:41

Well if soccer city or FNB doesn't sound well to both parties,i think i can giv them permission to use my name.

I mean i don't think anyone can contest, de use of a true South African, a noble son of the soil.

After all Yizwe Lethu ma Afrika!