Football fans who were unable to purchase tickets for the MTN8 final can find alternative ways to watch the match in the Bay of Plenty fan zone, located on Durban's beachfront promenade.
Pirates versus Sundowns
Tickets for the MTN8 2026 final between South African champions 'Orlando Pirates' and 'Mamelodi Sundowns' are sold out at the Moses Mabhida Stadium. Nevertheless, for fans wishing to experience the atmosphere of the final day in Durban, an official Public Viewing Area (PVA) has been set up in Bay of Plenty on the Durban promenade.
This zone provides football supporters with a free, safe, and lively place to enjoy the atmosphere of match day. Dr. Zaki Mhize, the current Director of Commercial Sports and Venues at the eThekwini municipality, stated that the PVA will provide a secure space to watch the final, featuring entertainment from 12:00 until midnight, which exceeds the 90 minutes of the match itself.
He also noted that PVA visitors will not be forced to leave the central business district immediately, but will be able to spend a significant amount of time in this open, secured sports and recreation area along the beach almost all day Saturday.
To make the event more engaging, the PVA will include live artist performances, a pre-game program 90 minutes before kick-off, as well as entertainment during the break and after the match.
Dr. Mhize emphasized that safety is the highest priority at the PVA. He clarified that the event is fully risk-classified in accordance with the Sports and Entertainment Venues Safety Act of 2010 and is managed through the Venue Operations Command Centre (VOC).
Visitors can expect controlled access points assigned by event marshals, clearly marked zones, as well as a strong presence of security personnel and emergency services.
Although Dr. Mhize did not explicitly forbid fans from bringing their own drinks, he pointed out the availability of nearby food vendors. He added that the location is well-serviced and situated near restaurants, retail outlets, and recreational facilities on the promenade, allowing fans to enjoy the vibrant atmosphere of Durban while watching the final.
Durban's central business district and the stadium grounds will be very active on Saturday. The MTN8 final, starting at 18:00 at Moses Mabhida Stadium, will take place after the second day of the first test match between the 'Proteas' and Australia at Kingsmead, which runs from October 9th to 13th.
The 'Sharks' team will also provide logistical support in Durban, as they travel to Cape Town to meet the 'Stormers' in the United Rugby Championship derby, which starts at 16:00 on Saturday.
Dr. Mhize announced that the official list of artists for the PVA will be released soon and urged fans to follow further updates.