Here at T, we consume sporting events like we do hot dogs: very infrequently, but with relish. Next up is the World Cup, and it’s gonna be big. How big? That’s now a fraught question. South Africa has already spent about $5 billion primping itself for the month-long soccer event, but expectations for visitors — once around 750,000 people — have dropped significantly. Blame the global recession, for sure, but the slump might also owe a bit to South Africa’s location, at the bottom of a huge continent that often extends beyond most people’s imaginations, and travel budgets.
Sad as it is, this lack of demand could spell opportunity for value-minded travelers, both sport enthusiasts and soccer naifs who might be appealed by the country’s less foot-focused offerings. Airlines and hotels have slashed prices, which means that now — as in right now — is an ideal time to book.
What is there to see? A huge chunk of South Africa’s World Cup money has gone into building stadiums. There are 10 in total, five of which are brand new. Fears persist that these sleek new stadiums might become white elephants after the event concludes on July 11, with no one willing or able to pay for their upkeep. But at least the stadiums escape the charge of not being sufficiently African. Unlike the Cup’s official restaurant (McDonald’s) and official theme song (by Shakira), most of the new structures are inspired by an aspect of South African culture.
It should come hardly as a revelation that there’s a lot more to experience in South Africa than soccer. For the biggest host cities, we’ve culled travel suggestions, many from our own archives, that will take you far away from these fancy new pitches. More ......
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