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Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium Operator Access Management says its confident the economic impact of last months's IRB Sevens on Nelson Mandela Bay will continue the upward trend of the two previous years.
Metro minute reports that the economic impact of the tournament on the Metro in 2012 was R154 million with 500 temporary and permanent jobs created.
In 2013, the figures had risen to R217 million with 700 temporary and permanent jobs created.
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium Chief executive Chantal du Pisani says the final figures for 2014 will be released later by SA Rugby but that she's confident they'll have increased along a similar growth trajectory from previous years. She said unaudited foot traffic figures showed that attendance in 2014 had increased by 8% compared with the previous year.
A total of 63 041 spectators filled the stadium last month to watch the Blitzbokke successfully defend their title.
There were 26 537 spectators in attendance on the Saturday and 36 504 on the Sunday.
Du Pisani said she believed the Metro was also in a good position for a possible renewal of the 4-year contract to host the event.
That decision is expected to be announced in February, with Cape Town having also put in a bid to host the South African leg of the HSBC Sevens World Series.
(Source: Metro Minute to subscribe mail metminutes@iafrica.com)
