Cape Town’s five-year major Events plan taking shape
14 June 2023
The City of Cape Town’s Events Department held its annual Industry Engagement with event organisers, service suppliers, venues and sponsors at the DHL Stadium today. Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security Alderman JP Smith outlined Cape Town’s events outlook for the near future
The City has announced that it has officially expressed interest to host the European Professional Club Rugby finals in 2025 or 2026. The City will be working with SA Rugby on the bid.
A successful bid would add a key international rugby championship to an already exciting line-up of major events heading to Cape Town over the next five years. Cape Town has already registered interest with Cricket South Africa to be one of the host cities and provide support for the 2027 Men's ODI World Cup to be hosted in South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
Additionally, the City has had discussions with SAFA Cape Town about providing support to the football association's bid for the rights to host the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2027.
The City of Cape Town has also issued an endorsement letter to Cycling SA in its bid to host the UCI Mountain Bike Marathon World Championships in 2028.
'Cape Town has proven its capabilities in undertaking the task of hosting major international events because we have an experienced events industry, an efficient Events Office and a well-established hospitality industry to provide support. As a result, we have seen over the last couple of years that events are a major catalyst for economic growth across many sectors whether it's tourism, logistics or hospitality.
'We believe planning ahead will lay the ground work for our partners to prepare for the events and guarantee benefits for the events industry, the economy and our residents. We welcome any other federations or promoters who want to bring major events to Cape Town and we will gladly provide support where possible,' said the City's Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security Alderman JP Smith.
The Events Department also used the industry engagement to reflect on a successful events season, lessons and areas of improvement in the upcoming financial year.
To date, in the 2022/23 financial year, the Events Permit Office has issued 1 171 permits which is almost triple the number issued in the preceding financial year.
Only 459 permits were issued in the 2021/2022 financial year impacted by Covid-19 restrictions.
Some of the major events hosted in Cape Town during this financial year include:
- Springboks vs Wales test match
- Rugby World Cup Sevens
- Sanlam Cape Town Marathon
- ICC Women's T20 World Cup
- Formula E
- Cape Town Tens
- The Ocean Race
- Tweede Nuwe Jaar Street Parade
- Cape Town Carnival
- Cape Town Cycle Tour
- WOMAD
- Loeries Creative Week
- World Hockey Masters World Cup
- URC Grand Final
- Comic Con Cape Town
- SA 20
- Netball Quad Series
- Red Bull Box Cart Race
- KykNET and Kie Mitchell's Plain Festival
- HSBC Rugby 7's Cape Town
- Cape Town Met
- Imagine Dragons Mercury World Tour
- World Travel Market Africa
- Monster Jam
- Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon
- Bayhill Premier Cup
Collectively, the above-mentioned events hosted over one million participants and spectators during a 10-month period.
Additionally, a review of the economic impact revealed that seven of Cape Town's sporting events generate over R5 billion worth of economic activity in the city.
During this financial year, the City supported over 60 sports events. In total, the City provide financial and events support to 126 events.
Some of Cape Town's events highlights for the 2022/23 financial year include:
- Breaking the attendance record for the Rugby World Cup Sevens
- Women's T20 World Cup final broke the record for the number of spectators at a women's cricket match in South Africa.
- Hosted the first E-prix in sub-Saharan Africa.
- Delivered the fastest track in Formula E history.
- Set a new attendance record for a United Rugby Championship Grand Final.
- Hosted the Formula E, the ICC Women's T20 World Cup final, the Ocean Race and the International Ice Hockey Federation Women's Championship in a single weekend.
The City is currently working with the Netball World Cup Local Organising Committee and other partners to finalise planning for Africa's first major international tournament to be hosted at the CTICC in July 2023.
Residents and visitors can also look forward to being spoiled for choice with an array of new and old motorsports events as well as exciting concerts to be announced soon.
End
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
