Uber Eats has launched ‘Live’, a new feature that lets users order food and drinks right from their seats at select event venues, changing the live entertainment experience for South Africans.
When attending a live concert or a football match at any of these venues, a user can open the Uber Eats app, choose a meal from available food stalls at the event venue, and have it delivered to them right where they are sitting.
First tested at SunBet Arena in Pretoria during a recent Basketball Africa League (BAL) game on June 13, 2025, Uber Eats hopes this new feature will change the way South Africans enjoy live entertainment by making it easier to grab a bite without missing the action.
Launched in South Africa in 2016, Uber Eats is now betting on the country’s popular entertainment venues—and the rising demand for food delivery—as more people look for convenient ways to enjoy live events.
SunBet Arena, one of the country’s premier indoor venues, typically hosts 20 to 30 major events a year. In 2025 alone, global stars like Andrea Bocelli, Sting, and Robbie Williams have graced its Pretoria stage, and it was the battleground for the Basketball Africa League (BAL) playoffs and finals—a week-long event.
Beyond SunBet, high-capacity venues such as Cape Town Stadium, FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, and Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban are also packed with concerts, sports fixtures, and cultural festivals—each representing a golden opportunity for Uber Eats to embed itself deeper into the live event experience across South Africa.
In 2024, South Africans spent about $3.3 billion on online food deliveries. This number is expected to nearly double to $5.99 billion by 2030, growing steadily by about 9.9% each year. Services such as Uber Eats and Mr. D that aggregate restaurants and other meal options, form the fastest growing segment of this market.
“We’re proud to introduce a product that meets South Africans exactly where they are – at the heart of culture, community, and celebration,” says Cassie Jaganyi, Head of Communications, Uber Sub-Saharan Africa. “Uber Eats Live is about enhancing moments, not interrupting them. It’s innovation that moves with the crowd, not against it.”
According to Uber’s 2023 Economic Impact Report, the platform supported over 40,000 earners and contributed R17 billion (over $930 million) to the local economy in just one year. By creating tech-enabled opportunities like Uber Eats Live, the platform continues to unlock new ways to drive growth and deliver value for consumers, merchants, and delivery riders alike.
Uber Eats claims that as South Africa’s entertainment landscape evolves, they are committed to evolving with it, bringing smart, user-centric solutions to life that enhance every kind of experience.
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