South Africa 2010: Catch all preparation thread

[BocaFan]

The problem really isn't stadiums. There will be drying paint and a few incomplete details, but the stadiums will likely get done. It's the infrastructure improvements that have a snowballs chance in hell of getting done. The hope is that it's enough that there are no major incidents. By major incidents I'm thinking power outages or a transportation snafu that creates gridlock or strands thousands of ticket holders far from their next match.

I think that not only will they host, but they'll be largely successful. It won't be the super high tech, efficient Cup that was Germany, but the South Africans... and Africans in general will make sure that their Cup is one that represents Africa well and that people remember fondly.

Correct! While everyone seems to be praying that the WC gets moved to the USA, they perhaps missed the news that ticket sales are going ahead beginning this February. IOW, if the WC were to be moved, it would be moved very soon. But the noise regarding a possible move simply isn’t loud enough to suggest that anything big like this will happen in the next 4-6 months.

100% chance South Africa will host!

[Beazley17]

Correct! While everyone seems to be praying that the WC gets moved to the USA, they perhaps missed the news that ticket sales are going ahead beginning this February. IOW, if the WC were to be moved, it would be moved very soon. But the noise regarding a possible move simply isn’t loud enough to suggest that anything big like this will happen in the next 4-6 months.

100% chance South Africa will host!


Agrred completley!!! Only something terrible would move the cup out of Africa. Anyways, I am very excited to go, and it should be a blast.

[zasal911]

the news that ticket sales are going ahead beginning this February.


how does one get tickets??

[Andrés_]

Correct! While everyone seems to be praying that the WC gets moved to the USA, they perhaps missed the news that ticket sales are going ahead beginning this February. IOW, if the WC were to be moved, it would be moved very soon. But the noise regarding a possible move simply isn’t loud enough to suggest that anything big like this will happen in the next 4-6 months.

100% chance South Africa will host!

I don't get why people keep bringing that it will be moved to United States still, we don't even know who are the supposed 3 candidates of the "Plan B", do we?

[ragan]

I don't get why people keep bringing that it will be moved to United States still, we don't even know who are the supposed 3 candidates of the "Plan B", do we?
no. but, from past experiences in moving the WC at the last minute, USA is the logical choice. we are the only country that can host a major tournament on short notice. however, our stadia do not really meet fifa requirements. unless they'd be willing to let it slide like they did in 1994.

england is the best choice on a mid range notice. they have the stadia, and i do not think they'd have to improve any stadia. if they allow it to be a great britian affair, they wouldn't have to do anything. if just england, they'd have to allow more than 1 city to have two stadia. manchester and london each would have two, with the latter maybe having 3.

[Maruti]

Stadium update:

2 out of the 5 stadiums are ahead of schedule (Gauteng is 2 months ahead of schedule, Cape Town is 5 weeks). Peter Mokaba stadium is on time, but has had some strikes putting back building (else it would have been finished ahead of time,). Mbombela is 30 days behind schedule due to worker's strike (planned construction May 2009). That leaves one problematic stadium in Port Elisabeth, which won't be ready for 2009, but will be fine for 2010.

Additionally renovation of Loftus and Coca Cola park is ahead of schedule. Soccer City - all friggin 94 000 seats of it - is set to be set 3 months ahead of schedule.

Verdict: ABSOLUTELY NO RISK OF STADIUMS NOT BEING READY BY 2010.

[Maruti]

Check this out for pics on the Cape Town stadium:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/Cape%20Town%202010%20Transport/progressaugust08.jpg

This is a great forum if someone wants to keep up to date:
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/forumdisplay.php?f=724

[chiva_guero]

Everyone's experienced something like "Island time", and "African time" will surely come up at some point in a trip to Africa. But ultimately, it should be the World Cup ... not just the First World Cup.

It's on.

[shannonhills]

I'm a 40-something single mother from California whose only excursion out of the North/Central American continent has been to Paris, and I am seriously considering going to South Africa to watch the 2010 World Cup games (son will stay with Dad). Due to the cost, I will probably have to travel by myself. I don't want to stay in 5-star hotels and I definitely don't want to pay $10,000.00 for the trip. I would really appreciate hearing from those of you who are also seriously considering or definitely going -- what's your planned itinerary, which stadiums (assuming they are completed) do you plan to visit, where are you staying, etc. Please PM me if you have any information you think will help me, or if you know of any fan groups that I could join.

Thanks for the links to the stadium-watch sites. I'll be keeping a keen eye on them.

[england66]

Good luck if you go you'll have a great time...here's an alternative for you.

Go to London. The whole country will be wrapped up in world cup fever, espicially if England make it. You can watch wall to wall coverage as much as you want from any pub, meet all kinds of people who are friendly to Americans and enjoy the heck out of one of the worlds truly great cities. You'll be a lot safer as well and your trip will be less expensive by far if you use one of the multitude of "package tours" available.

There will be plenty of watering holes that are packed with Americans who live/work inthe city cheering on the USA too. June/early july is not yet the height of the tourist season so you can see all the sights in your own good time.

Trust me, you'd have a ball and probably the best vacation of your life.

[Mosco]

I'm a 40-something single mother from California whose only excursion out of the North/Central American continent has been to Paris, and I am seriously considering going to South Africa to watch the 2010 World Cup games (son will stay with Dad). Due to the cost, I will probably have to travel by myself. I don't want to stay in 5-star hotels and I definitely don't want to pay $10,000.00 for the trip. I would really appreciate hearing from those of you who are also seriously considering or definitely going -- what's your planned itinerary, which stadiums (assuming they are completed) do you plan to visit, where are you staying, etc. Please PM me if you have any information you think will help me, or if you know of any fan groups that I could join.

Thanks for the links to the stadium-watch sites. I'll be keeping a keen eye on them.



Hello and greetings I have been looking for a thread like this for some time now hope you mates don't mind if I join you to chat about preparations for the 2010 World Cup. I was just curious you live in (West Hills) San Fernando Valley? Also which national team will you be rooting for it's obvious who I will be rooting for as they are just a few points shy of qualifying for the World Cup under Sven thank god! I read also England 66's post and I have been to London before great city indeed nice people London attracks alot of tourist as I have seen. I would like to comment on difference between actually going to the world cup or watching from London. Me personally scince I love futbol=soccer so much their would be nothing better than actually watching your national team live from the stands and rooting for them than watching it from a pub in London plus I am sure it is less expensive in South Africa than the English pound which is more than the euro it would make more scence to go to south Africa but nothing offensive to London or England.
I work for a major USA airline so I can non-rev but I have thought about the risk of getting stuck in South Africa with the volume of traffic for this event and having to be at work at a certain date and would much rather have a confirm seat I will just have to save my money for my airfare also I will have to wait for the draw to see were my team will be playing and who they will face? Anyhow if anyone here has any ideas please feel free to share.

cheers

[jcvf90]

they are not a few points from the wc, they are a few points from the hex, then they have qualify.
Regardless am sure most people arent interested in concacaf qualifying carry on.

[Mosco]

they are not a few points from the wc, they are a few points from the hex, then they have qualify.
Regardless am sure most people arent interested in concacaf qualifying carry on.



Well I know uyou have nothing to jump up joy about as you will be watching it from home yes carry on:rolleyes:

[chiva_guero]

Please PM me if you have any information you think will help me, or if you know of any fan groups that I could join.

PM sent ... here are some links I put in another thread. South Africa is a unique place to visit. I strongly recommend it!

http://www.krugerpark.co.za/ (http://www.krugerpark.co.za/)

http://www.sanparks.org/parks/table_mountain/ (http://www.sanparks.org/parks/table_mountain/)

http://www.capetown-direct.com/activ...ting-cape-town (http://www.capetown-direct.com/activity/wine-tasting-cape-town)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bunny_chow (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bunny_chow)

Oh and Mosco, look into buying a one way ticket from South Africa to Europe. Then you can do the ride-share or whatever from a European city that isn't subject to the traffic that will be coming out of South Africa.

[jcvf90]

Well I know uyou have nothing to jump up joy about as you will be watching it from home yes carry on:rolleyes:
So because i point out your lack of knowledge when it comes to the process of qualification (you have obviously only been following conca quals for the upcoming WC at the most) Honduras is in 2nd place and that qualifies them to hexagonal which happens to mean 6 team tourney, idk if u know how to do that math yet as you are probably not out of middle school yet, but 3 groups top two teams of each group qualify. BTW you have to insult my obviously inferior country to make you feel better about your ignorance? Than good for you, some people need self esteem help from somewhere.
BTW i am planning on going to South Africa for the WC.:p

[Mosco]

So because i point out your lack of knowledge when it comes to the process of qualification (you have obviously only been following conca quals for the upcoming WC at the most) Honduras is in 2nd place and that qualifies them to hexagonal which happens to mean 6 team tourney, idk if u know how to do that math yet as you are probably not out of middle school yet, but 3 groups top two teams of each group qualify. BTW you have to insult my obviously inferior country to make you feel better about your ignorance? Than good for you, some people need self esteem help from somewhere.
BTW i am planning on going to South Africa for the WC.:p



Actually if you look back at my current post and this thread is about preparations for South Africa 2010 not so much about qualifcation even though I mentioned it alittle you seem to let it bother you that Mexico is close to qualifying their at 9 points now not too far to go now so I am sure they will make it anyhow you should have had the brains to not respond to my post because it was mostly about preparations for South Africa 2010. So lets just leave things the way they are right now and don't reply back to my posts unless it has anything to do with preparations for South Africa 2010:)

[jcvf90]

Actually if you look back at my current post and this thread is about preparations for South Africa 2010 not so much about qualifcation even though I mentioned it alittle you seem to let it bother you that Mexico is close to qualifying their at 9 points now not too far to go now so I am sure they will make it anyhow you should have had the brains to not respond to my post because it was mostly about preparations for South Africa 2010. So lets just leave things the way they are right now and don't reply back to my posts unless it has anything to do with preparations for South Africa 2010:)
I respond to watever i want. There is still a whole round before mexico qualifies, learn how it works.:rolleyes:

Now to intelligent people, do any of you think any mishap in the confederations cup could affect the preparation.
I have also had the question of the security, as i hear there is alot of crime that goes on?

[chiva_guero]

Not that I am intelligent, but Blatter has been pretty clear that if any major hiccups occur during the Confederations Cup, RSA risks losing the World Cup.

As far as crime, I think there will be a concerted effort to provide security for World Cup patrons, but like in any country, there are places you will want to avoid. The actual hosting sites and patron villages are likely going to have tons of security, though.

I think most people will be pleasantly surprised by South Africa. Pretoria (now known as Tshwane) is a fantastic city with universities and all the night life you'd associate with that environment. Cape Town has a great vibe, and my South African friends have suggested that they will be partying in the streets. Durban is a beach town (from what I experienced) with amazing cultural diversity which translates into great places to eat in a great beach setting. There are small towns around Durban that are super quaint, chill and beautiful.

I spent 4 months in South Africa back in 1999, and I never had any threatening experiences. I did meet a Danish guy who had all his scuba gear stolen from him at the bus station. I actually heard a few bad stories involving bus stations, so I avoided using the bus. An ounce of prevention is a worth a pound of cure, and your hotel concierge or hosts will fill you in on what you need to know.

It's going to awesome, and I cant wait! Gotta save, save, save!

[jcvf90]

Awesome dude.
I have been saving for a while, i went to korea and japan, only watched three games but one was the final, it was sweet.
I got to see the US and Germany game, and also the Korea italy one.
Greatest traveling experience of my life.
I wasn't able to go to Germany because we were in the middle of the citizenship process here in america and couldnt leave the country.
But now OMG, am psycked specially knowing Honduras might have a chance at going.
Its great to know they will have security and i hope its not only for the tourney but also security for the people in SA to enjoy the tourney and to have better cities and places to live.

[Beerking]

I'm a 40-something single mother from California whose only excursion out of the North/Central American continent has been to Paris, and I am seriously considering going to South Africa to watch the 2010 World Cup games (son will stay with Dad). Due to the cost, I will probably have to travel by myself. I don't want to stay in 5-star hotels and I definitely don't want to pay $10,000.00 for the trip. I would really appreciate hearing from those of you who are also seriously considering or definitely going -- what's your planned itinerary, which stadiums (assuming they are completed) do you plan to visit, where are you staying, etc. Please PM me if you have any information you think will help me, or if you know of any fan groups that I could join.

Thanks for the links to the stadium-watch sites. I'll be keeping a keen eye on them.

Leave a will before you go, it will make things easier for your kid.