The Coca-Cola dome, hailed as one of South Africa’s most versatile special event and exhibition venues, is ten years old. 

 Carol Weaving, Managing Director of the Thebe Exhibitions and Events Group, who manages the dome, says a decade of constant attention to every detail required by exhibitors, event coordinators, concert promoters and visitors certainly paid off. 

 “With the wide variety of exhibitions and events that we offer, we have certainly managed to draw the support of as wide a variety of visitors - as a matter of fact, more than six hundred thousand visitors a year cannot be wrong!

 “A decade ago the prophets of doom branded the dome as unnecessary and predicted that such a facility would never get the support of the exhibitions and events industry. Add to it that the design was criticised as being too complex from a layout, crowd management and acoustics point of view and the fact that the then residential nature of the area was perceived to be invaded, and the dome had no chance of survival. However, the success of the dome has proven these prophets completely wrong. 

 “Persevering – and succeeding - in a very competitive market environment has certainly proven to be worth our while. The dome is now seen as a landmark on the Gauteng skyline and visitors know that they receive value for money – and very importantly - a great experience. 

 “This is due to understanding the market that we operate in, understanding the customers’ needs and what they would like to experience when looking for entertainment – the WOW factor if you wish. For being able to reach this point, a dedicated team is essential, and we definitely have this at the dome. With this team, I look forward to achieving even more success in the next decade,” says Weaving.   

 The Sasol Pension Fund, owners of the dome, renewed the management contract for the venue with the Thebe Exhibitions and Events Group until 2014.

 “The professional manner in which the group manages the dome certainly sets a benchmark in the industry. The team’s expert approach assists greatly in making this asset of the fund a very viable business proposition,” says Robert Robertson, Chief Executive Officer of the Social Pension Fund. 

 “Add to this the fact that the dome is aligned with the world’s biggest brand - Coca-Cola - and it is evident why the dome is Southern Africa’s most definitive multi-purpose indoor entertainment venue,” says Weaving.

 “It offers a perfect combination of capacity and capability, hosting a variety of different events from consumer and trade exhibitions to international and local concerts to corporate banquets and launches to large conventions, as well as indoor sporting events.” \

About the Coca-Cola dome