RUSTENBURG
WORLD CUP STADIUMS
Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg:
Soccer City will be the prestigious venue for both the opening and final matches of the 2010 Soccer World Cup. Built in 1987, Soccer City has played host to some of the most exciting matches in South Africa's soccer history.
Also know as the FNB Stadium, Soccer City is set to be enlarged from its present seating capacity of 80 000 to 94 700 for soccer's showcase event. Some significant changes will be made to the present two-tiered bowl for the World Cup: the upper tier will be extended around the stadium, while an encircling roof will be added. New floodlights will be installed and new changing rooms will be developed.
Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg:
Ellis Park Stadium is the centrepiece of a sporting sector in the south-east of Johannesburg . Earlier it was known for Rugby. But now, Ellis Park Stadium will host five group games, one second round game and one quarter-final. It has also been ear-marked as a semi-final venue for the 2010 South Africa World Cup. The Stadium will be undergoing major renovations to fullfill all the FIFA requirements. Once completed, new upper tiers will be behind each goal, adding an extra 10 000 seats and bringing the seating capacity to the required 70 000. Ellis Park will then meet all requirements to be accepted as a semi-final match venue. Areas like the Presidential suite are already receiving a facelift. There will also be a hospitality room and new changing rooms.
The Greater Ellis Park precinct will receive a multi-million rand upgrade over the next few years - with the idea of selling the area as a place that is ready to host the 2010 Soccer World Cup and, hopefully, the 2011 Rugby World Cup. The R2-billion upgrade is already attracting new investment.
Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria:
Loftus Versfeld is situated 5 km from the city center of Tshwane (Pretoria). Loftus is the home ground of the Sundowns Football Club, one of South Africa's premiere professional clubs.
Since 1977, Loftus Versfeld has undergone many renovations and its four major stands have been completely rebuilt. Many changes are planned and are being executed to qualify for selection as a first and second round venue and in order to meet FIFA's stringent requirements for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The floodlights, sound system and scoreboard at Loftus Versfeld will be upgraded. Designated media areas will be constructed in the lower level of the west stand.
Loftus boasts the country's finest corporate hospitality facilities and upgades to Loftus are expected to be completed by 2009.
Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace, Rustenburg:
Located in Rustenburg, in the North West Province, the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace was opened in 1999 and completely funded by the Royal Bafokeng community, an administrative entity presiding over the world's richest platinum mines. The Stadium is already well equipped and will require only minor renovations to bring it up to FIFA standards.
Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace will host first and second round matches for the FIFA World Cup in 2010. The capacity of the stadium will be increased to 40,000 with the construction of two additional rows of seating on the second level. New electronic scoreboards, floodlights and a new public address system will be made ready.
Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein:
Situated only a few minutes drive from the proposed team hotels in Bloemfontein, the Free State Stadium is a dedicated sporting environment with ample parking and excellent corporate hospitality. It is also known as Vodacom Park. The Free State Stadium has been ear-marked for 1st and 2nd Round Matches for the 2010 World Cup
A second tier will be added to the main grandstand, which will increase the seating capacity to 40,000. The upgrades are already completed or are nearing completion. New turnstiles will be erected, the floodlights will be upgraded, electronic scoreboards will be installed and the sound system will be revamped.
Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga:
Mbombela Stadium has been proposed as a venue for both the first and second round matches. Construction of the new Mbombela Stadium on open land just seven kilometres north of Nelspruit is expected to be completed in June 2009. The Mbombela Stadium has been designed to ensure it enjoys a prosperous life beyond the tournament as an adaptable, relevant multi-sport, entertainment and exhibition venue. It will have a seating of over 40,000.
Nelson Mandela Stadium, Port Elizabeth:
The Port Elizabeth Stadium will be located two kilometres from the coast, close to the N2 highway and no more than fifteen minutes' drive from the city's main hotel sector. The first and second round matches of the 2010 World Cup will be held here.
The stadium, still to be built, will have a capacity of 49,500, be a high-tech, modern venue and will meet every requirement needed to provide a world class venue.
Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, Limpopo:
Situated in Polokwane (Pietersburg), the capital of Limpopo, South Africa, the Peter Mokaba Stadium currently serves as a football stadium and as an international athletics venue. The stadium comprises only a main stand and three grass banks at the moment, but will be upgraded in preparation for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. An additional 20 rows of seating will be built around the entire stadium to increase capacity to 40,000.
In addition to the structural work, the Peter Mokaba stadium will be provided with first rate equipment, including an electronic scoreboard in the northern stand, new floodlights, sound system and a fire detection and protection system. The roof over the existing west stand of the Peter Mokaba Stadium will be removed and replaced by a roof that covers the entire western stand of the new Stadium.
King's Park Stadium, Durban:
Originally built in 1891, Kings Park Stadium is located in KwaZulu Natal in the beautiful City of Durban. It has been proposed as a semi-final venue for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. In order to qualify under FIFA requirements the stadium will have to construct new roofed upper tiers at the north and south ends of the ground, and behind each of the goals. This will create a fully encircled oval with a 60 000 seating capacity. The upgrades to King's park stadium are expected to be completed by September in 2008.
The launching of South Africa's 2010 World Cup bid was signaled by a South Africa and England friendly match in May 2003 at King's Park. The stadium has since won the appreciation of visiting officials and the media.
Green Point Stadium, Cape Town:
The Green Point Stadium in Cape Town will host six first-round matches, one second-round, one quarter-final and one semifinal match. It will be transformed into a completely new 70 000 seater, all-weather, multi-purpose, environmentally sustainable, modern, technologically advanced, world class Stadium giving expression to the "African Renaissance Stadium" at the juncture between Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean at the southern tip of Africa. The new Stadium will comply fully with FIFAT Match Stadium requirements.
The uniquely impressive and recognisable visuals that this African landmark Stadium will offer the world will be of great marketing value to the continent and country.
