DEMOLITION contractors have moved in at the old Boet Erasmus Stadium to signal the beginning of the end for the once iconic sports facility of Nelson Mandela Bay.
The demise of the Boet, also known as Telkom Park, began when the city started the construction of the new multipurpose Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
“The demolition, which is expected to take up to three months, is just one step of the process to freeing up this prime real estate for catalytic and transformative developments,” said Luvuyo Bangazi, Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA) spokesperson.
During its peak, to the delight of visitors and locals, the Boet hosted many rugby tests, soccer tournaments, concerts, festivals and more.
The stadium was the headquarters of all major local and international sporting events in the Eastern Cape.
As the demolition kicked off, the MBDA called on all citizens to share their special memories of the Boet by writing and publishing their unique and memorable stories with the world.
The MBDA is asking citizens to share these stories, photos, memorabilia and anything else via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram using #Dankieboet.
“The agency will publish an ebook of all the unique memories received once the demolition concludes. Those who wish to email can do so by sending their stories to create@mbda.co.za or go to the MBDA Facebook page and leave a comment,” concluded Bangazi.
