The manager of the 2010 World Cup final stadium isn't giving up on the name Soccer City, despite a court order confirming a bank's naming rights.
Jacques Grobbelaar, Stadium Management South Africa's chief executive, said Thursday he would abide by the court order that the name must revert to FNB Stadium. But he says the surrounding area, which includes South Africa's football association headquarters, will be marketed as Soccer City.
''We've acknowledged the value of the name,'' he said. ''We think it's entrenched globally.''
The Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that First National Bank's pre-World Cup naming deal stands.
FNB, a World Cup sponsor, allowed the stadium to be called Soccer City during the tournament because the world soccer governing body does not allow sponsors' names on stadiums during the tournament. Grobbelaar had wanted to continue using Soccer City, putting the two sides in court after the July 11 final.
Speaking to The Associated Press, Grobbelaar said all the court ruling gave FNB was the right to put its name on signs at stadium entrances and exits, while preventing his company from posting any other signs at the gates.
That narrow reading could mean chilly relations between stadium managers and sponsors until 2014, when FNB's name deal expires. FNB's spokesman did not immediately return a call requesting comment Thursday.
In a statement Wednesday, FNB had welcomed the court ruling and said it was looking forward to ''a long stream of history-making international and local sporting events at FNB Stadium in Soweto.''
Grobbelaar said he was looking ahead to a new naming deal with a sponsor open to using ''Soccer City.''
''We may engage with the right sponsor at the right time,'' he said.
