Inside DHL Stadium: what it's like running the 'multipurpose' venue

CapeTalk's Lester Kiewit speaks to Gina Woodburn, CEO of DHL Stadium, and Vuyolwethu Gabelana, the stadium’s Commercial and Marketing Manager.

Listen below:

Kiewit kicked off his new #LesterInYourBusinessLounge series in style, broadcasting live from the business lounge at the iconic DHL Stadium.

Woodburn helped turn the stadium into a top-tier venue for major sports and entertainment events, and Gabelana is instrumental in building its brand and boosting audience numbers. Both of them are proud of what the stadium offers to visitors.

Together, they shared the inside scoop on what it takes to run and grow one of South Africa’s most celebrated venues offering versatile hospitality offerings with a strong focus on community engagement while contributing to the local economy.

Woodburn described their challenges, while highlighting that the aim is to create 'enjoyable' events for those visiting the iconic multipurpose stadium — from rugby to soccer matches, concerts and Monster Truck events — the stadium's event calendar is booked and busy all year long.

"What's important about the stadium is that it's a multipurpose venue."

- Gina Woodburn, CEO - DHL Stadium

"One of the biggest challenges will always be how to get people to and from the stadium... but a lot of work has been done with our transport management plans with MyCiTi busses... encouraging people to use public transport and come early... the public has listened and it does make the experience more enjoyable."

- Gina Woodburn, CEO - DHL Stadium

The duo also explain what it's like hosting events for 50,000 people.

"It's a learning process... to bring 50,000 people into a space is a lot of people, so there is a lot of learning that happens along the way with regards to what makes the experience more enjoyable and what spectators want, and we listen to that."

- Gina Woodburn, CEO - DHL Stadium

"Utilising the space within the stadium is important and not seeing it as just a pitch, but using the multiple spaces like this Business Lounge..."

- Vuyolwethu Gabelana, Commercial and Marketing Manager - DHL Stadium

DHL Stadium boasts a shared hospitality facility on level four of the west quadrant of the stadium.

It consists of three spacious, well-furnished membership lounges with a bank of field-facing windows and doors that lead outside onto a wide veranda, before leading down into some of the best field-viewing seats in the stadium.

Membership lounges offer the opportunity to enjoy matches in a relaxed and comfortable environment, fully serviced with dedicated cloakrooms and help desks.

The venue can be booked for birthday parties, business conferences, meetings, and other VIP experiences.

For more on the stadium's offerings, visit the website.

Image by: Rafiq Wagiet

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the full conversation.