Stadium - Port Elizabeth

Port Elizabeth

The city does not currently have a dedicated football stadium. All international matches were played at the Eastern Province rugby team's ground, including the 2005 Nelson Mandela Challenge between South Africa and Senegal at the rugby union stadium.

Despite not having a team in the Premier Soccer League, the city is exceptionally passionate about football. Whenever football games are staged, it is always to a capacity crowd.

The 2010 FIFA World Cup™ affords the host city an opportunity to build a dedicated football stadium -and capitalise on the football mania of its citizens. The stadium will be built on the North End Lake, which will make an idyllic setting for match days. The features will include a three-tier design with two rings of skyboxes.

Facts

Name:	Port Elizabeth
City:	Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth
Construction:	new
Completion:	2009
Gross Capacity:	48 000

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Stadium - Free State

Free State

Mangaung/Bloemfontein will be hosting teams at the Free State Stadium, which currently seats approximately 38,000 people. The stadium derives its name from the province in which it is located.

The stadium played host to group and quarter-final matches at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations in 1996 and the IRB Rugby World Cup in 1995. It is also the alternate home ground of Premier Soccer League team, Bloemfontein Celtics.

The stadium will be undergoing a costly upgrade and once completed, will have a gross seating capacity of 48,000. The stadium will be used as a venue for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup.

A second tier is being added to the western pavilion, which will increase the stadium's gross capacity from approximately 38,000 to 45,000.

Facts

Stadium:	Free State
City:	Mangaung / Bloemfontein
Built:	1952
Construction:	medium upgrade
Completion:	2008
Gross Capacity (after upgrade):	48,000

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Stadium - Soccer City

Soccer City

Soccer City can quite rightfully call itself the home of football in South Africa. In the mid 1980s, football officials came together to build the first international football stadium in the country and the construction was funded from the football fraternity's coffers.

Soccer City hosted the first mass rally of Nelson Mandela after his release in 1990. Thousands of mourners lamented Chris Hani's assassination at the stadium in 1993. It was also the venue for the 1996 CAF Africa Cup of Nations finals, with South Africa eventually triumphing.

It is also a neighbour to the home of the South African Football Association and its new headquarters, the SAFA House. The Local Organising Committee for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, as well as the FIFA offices, are currently being housed in SAFA House.

Soccer City will be the flagship stadium for the first FIFA World Cup™ in Africa. The design is unique and unusual as the outer part of the stadium is designed to resemble an African pot. About 40 percent of Joburg's population live in Soweto, in close proximity to Soccer City. This will make the stadium a hub of activity during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

It currently seats 80,000 people, but after its planned upgrade should seat 94,700.

Facts

Stadium:	Soccer City
City:	Johannesburg
Built:	1987
Construction:	major upgrade
Completion:	2009
Gross Capacity	94 700

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Stadium - Ellis Park

Ellis Park

Ellis Park was first built in 1928 as a rugby union stadium. It was demolished and rebuilt in 1982, again exclusively for rugby. It was named after JD Ellis, a Johannesburg city councillor who approved the use of the land for a stadium, setting aside 13 acres.

The stadium was used for the finals of the 1995 IRB Rugby World Cup. Ellis Park has also been the stage for many unforgettable football matches. Bafana Bafana held Argentina to a 1-1 draw in 1995, and then drew 0-0 with then FIFA World Cup holders France in 2000 in international friendlies.

Currently, it is the home ground of Orlando Pirates FC, a club in the Premier Soccer League. In 1995, they were the first South African team to win the CAF African Club Championship.

The Nelson Mandela African XI played the World All Stars XI in a farewell match for the outgoing president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela. Kalusha Bwalya, Mark Fish, Lucas Radebe and Tijani Babangida joined 'World All Stars' such as Rigoberto Song, Dunga, Luis Hernandez and Claudio Suarez in saluting a great state leader.

Ellis Park is to undergo a minor upgrade and will be ready in time for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup.

Facts

Name:	Ellis Park Stadium
City:	Johannesburg
Built:	1982
Construction:	minor upgrade
Construction Completion:	2009
Gross Capacity:	61,000

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Stadium - Durban Stadium

Durban Stadium

Durban has had a long footballing history. The first league was started in the KwaZulu-Natal Province.

The biggest match the city has hosted was when South Africa played a full strength England national team in 2002. Durban was also the venue for South Africa's first post-apartheid game when they played Cameroon, winning1-0 at King's Park. The city also hosted group, quarter and semi-final matches during the 1996 CAF Africa Cup of Nations. Tunisia secured their place in the final when they beat Zambia 4-2.

The new Durban stadium will pick up where King's Park left off and provide a world-class venue for football games. It will be have a gross seating capacity of 70,000, and the design of the stadium will be characterized by two large archways which arc 100 meters above the stadium roof.

The new three-tiered stadium will be part of the Durban's King Park sporting precinct. The sporting precinct will also include a variety of different sporting disciplines including athletics, rugby, golf and swimming.

Facts

Name:	Durban Stadium
City:	Durban
Construction:	new
Completion:	2009
Gross Capacity:	70 000

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