DHL Stadium has recently been awarded with the Gold International Award at the prestigious International Project Management Association (IPMA) under Global Project Management Awards for its recent pitch replacement project.
The recognition highlights the strategic execution of the project along with technical excellence and sustainable practices. These are aligned with the rigorous IPMA evaluation criteria which focuses mainly on People, Purpose, Processes, Resources and Results.
IPMA, is one of the world’s leading project management bodies that bestows these awards on projects. It demonstrates the outstanding performance and innovation. The awards ceremony will be held at DHL Stadium itself that underscores the project’s adherence to global standards and reinforces its status as a world class-venue.
The project has upgraded the pitch from a natural grass pitch to a cutting-edge hybrid grass system as well as the integrating natural grass with synthetic fibres. On par with global venues like Twickenham and Stade de France, the new pitch of the stadium offers durability far exceeding the conventional fields. These are capable of handling the traffic, six times more than the usual.
It also has a total lifespan of 15 years. This upgradation allows the stadium to host a wide range of back-to-back events. From top-tier rugby and football matches to high-profile concerts, it tries to manage minimal downtime for recovery.
The project showcased remarkable planning and execution as it was delivered on time and within budget. The team navigated a tight 12-month timeline during the 2023 Rugby World Cup and leveraged the detailed scheduling and agile management to overcome the challenges, including unforeseen delays in the delivery of materials.
As per the reports, the on-site construction took just 86 days, with critical milestones that was tracked meticulously through a day-by-day program. The team swiftly re-sequenced two major milestones, first: the installation and grow-in period and second: enduring the overall schedule that remained intact, when the hybrid grass system shipment faced delays due to weather.
In addition, the project prioritised sustainability by reusing 1,750 cubic meters of excavated materials and optimising the irrigation system that reflected their commitment towards environmental responsible practices and a long-term operational efficiency.
The new pitch has been significantly enhanced the operational flexibility, since the stadium got completed. More than 200 events have been hosted yet that attracted over 500,000 spectators.
This increased capacity has not only boosted the appeal of the stadium but also provided substantial economic benefits to the local community, stimulated business for vendors, hotels and for other service providers.
Considering this, CEO of DHL Stadium – Gina Woodburn expressed her pride in the success of the project and said that this award is a testament to the dedication of team towards excellence.
Woodburn added that the new hybrid pitch meets the highest international standards and will significantly enhance the ability to host back-to-back events. This will drive economic growth, will support local businesses and will also foster community engagement.
Gina stated further, “We’re proud to set a new benchmark for stadium infrastructure and will contribute towards global reputation of Cape Town.”
Mayor Geordin-Hill Lewis also responded and expressed, “I am proud of the DHL Stadium’s achievement. This was a necessary and important project that was executed perfectly. The Stadium proves to be one of the busiest and the most preferred venue for hosting big events in the country.”
Furthermore, the awards ceremony, together with a two and half-day conference with 600 delegates from 40 different countries was hosted at DHL Stadium. DHL Stadium is ideally positioned to host mid-week conferences, particularly the corporate functions.
DHL Stadium remains dedicated to deliver world-class experiences, that further cements its role as a cornerstone of cultural and sporting landscape of Cape Town.
The stadium continues to be a pivotal hub for diverse activities as a versatile multipurpose venue that hosts major sporting events and gala dinners, conferences as well as a wide range of community and corporate gatherings.