The Stellenbosch Municipality in South Africa has accepted a bid by football club Stellenbosch FC to operate and develop a local sports complex. The top-flight football club is now planning to build a stadium, several training pitches, as well as some fields for small-sided games.

The project, called ‘Field of Dreams’, will bring the municipality, the club, the ACE Trust, and the Open Play Foundation together.

Over a 5-year period, an estimated EUR 25 million will be spent on the project. The club has a 30-year managing and developing agreement. The municipality will retain ownership of the Van Der Stel Sports Complex.

The proposed development plan includes football facilities, comprising a 5,000-seater stadium (expandable to 10,000 seats in future phases), four international-standard full-size grass football fields, and six multi-purpose small-sided fields/courts.

Additionally, the complex will feature a sports high school accommodating 200 learners, residences for some student-athletes, and a 300-metre athletics track.

The new facility will serve as home for Stellenbosch FC teams (men’s, women’s, and youth), the ACE Trust’s sports high school, and the Open Play Foundation’s community development programs.