Soccer City (Johannesburg)

Soccer City Stadium (Johannesburg)

Soccer City Photos

Soccer City Stadium is situated in Nasrec Johannesburg, some 8 kilometres to the south-west of the city centre. The stadium is the flagship venue for the Soccer World Cup 2010, and it will be hosting both the opening match and the final. Soccer City Stadium is the largest in Africa. The stadium is also known as FNB Stadium (First National Bank stadium).

The stadium provides 80,000 plastic bucket seats, and has a 2 metre "moat" to protect the players from the fans.

Soccer City Stadium before the upgrading

Upgrade for Soccer World Cup 2010

The upper tier will be extended around the stadium and 99 corporate boxes added, to increase the capacity to 94,700. An encircling roof will be added, looking like a giant calabash shell (the calabash is a hollowed out plant which was commonly used to brew beer in - given South Africa's alcohol problem, the shape is probably appropriate).

New floodlights will be installed and new changing rooms will be developed. There are thoughts of increasing the capacity further to 100,000. The upgrade, which commenced in September 2006 to complete the plan started in 1989 is scheduled to be completed by April 2007.

Artist's impression of the revamped Soccer City Stadium

History

3 February 1996	South Africa beat Tunisia in the final of the African Cup of Nations
1994	Orlando Pirates fans set a section of the Soccer City stadium alight after their team were beaten in a league match by Kaizer Chiefs.
1987	Soccer City Stadium is built.

Orland Pirates

Soccer City Stadium serves as the home ground for Orlando Pirates.

South African Football Association

Soccer City is home to the South African Football Association.

Headquarters for the 2010 Soccer World Cup

The headquarters for the 2010 Soccer World Cup is due to be completed (at Soccer City) by October 2006. "SAFA House will become the central nerve centre of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, hosting operations for FIFA and the South African Local Organising Committee. Meant for 250 staff members, the headquarters will be a base during the organisation and preparation of the FIFA World Cup in South Africa," FIFA said on its website. The building is planned to be 5000 square metres in size, topped off by a dome measuring 16 metres across. Beyond 2010, SAFA House is to become not only the headquarters of the South African Football Association but also the home of the Premier Soccer League.