2027 Cricket World Cup games boost for Bay tourism

Excitement is building in the Nelson Mandela Bay tourism industry as cricket fever heats up with St George’s Park selected as one of the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup venues.

SA will co-host the event with Zimbabwe and Namibia, with St George’s Park’s 18,000capacity stadium chosen as one of the eight venues.

Games will also be played in Buffalo City.

It was reported last year that both stadiums were part of CSA’s comprehensive audit looking at all potential 2027 host stadiums’ financials.

Border Cricket president Simphiwe Ndzundzu and CSA public relations head Refentse Shinners said the World Cup would likely take place in September and the ICC was yet to confirm the fixtures.

St George’s Park hosted five games for the 2003 World Cup.

Cricket Eastern Cape chief executive Mark Williams said he was delighted St George’s Park had been chosen as a World Cup host venue, and he was confident the Proteas would visit Gqeberha during the course of the tournament.

“Over the past two seasons, St George’s Park has been a good hunting ground for the Proteas and we are confident of hosting the SA side,” he said.

“The Proteas always do well at St George’s, especially in the shorter version of the game, so there is no reason the Proteas will not play here, because in their past two outings in Gqeberha they came up trumps.”

Williams said St George’s Park was known for its ability to host big games.

“I am confident that we have the infrastructure required,” he said.

“Thanks to the support of the municipality, we were able to upgrade the stadium for the kind of top-class matches we are already hosting.

“St George’s has world-class facilities and we fulfil all the major requirements for hosting ICC games.

“We can deliver world-class events and St George’s Park has hosted World Cup games before.”

He said the 50-over format was generally regarded as a bigger ICC World Cup event.

“That is a good reason for us to get our act together.

“For the development of the game we need something big like this to get the region and cricket back onto the front foot in terms of development.

“In World Cups like this, there is always the consideration of what legacy the tournament will leave, and we believe that will be forthcoming.”

Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber chief executive Denise van Huyssteen said the city had world-class sporting facilities such as St George’s Park and the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

“It is vital that these facilities are optimally utilised for international sporting events.

“These types of events bring in many positive benefits for our local economy including tourism, retail spending and the profiling of the Bay on the global stage.”

She said the municipality had to start working in earnest in preparation for the event.

For instance, the city had to address critical issues around electricity, water and sanitation infrastructure, as well as safety and security.

“This is vital to ensuring that we can maximise the opportunity to attract tourists here not just for the event, but

for the longer term.

“Sports tourism has the potential to create thousands of direct and indirect jobs in tourism and related sectors.”

Discover Mandela Bay project manager Shaun van Eck said sports events were among the biggest boosters of tourism in the area.

“For example, Ironman raises occupancy levels by about 10% during a good year.

“The cricket will be longer and would have more of an impact. It will be a welcome boost.”

He said there would be many economic spin-offs.

“From a tourism view, we need to get people here and get them talking about us on social media.”

He said there was work to be done regarding the state of the city before 2027.

“The cricket will bring them here, but the most important aspect in tourism is social media posts.

“A tourist posts favourably to his social media group which averages about 50 [followers]; if we can get 10% to come to us, one creates five visitors.

“The state of the city is important for that.

“We want them to become promoters with their social media contacts and cause them to come on holiday.”

Port Elizabeth Metro B&B Association chair Shena Wilmot said the international sports spectacle was good news for the Bay.

“It will bring people to the city.”

She said it would help the hospitality sector with occupancy rates and with people buying food at restaurants.

“We hope the visitors bring their families.”

She said St George’s Park was a fabulous venue.

“Covid-19 hit the tourism industry hard.

“We are trying to pull ourselves out of it.”