Soccer City, The Calabash | |
 FNB Stadium during the opening match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup | |
 | |
| Full name | FNB Stadium |
|---|---|
| Former names | Soccer City (2010) |
| Location | Stadium Avenue, Nasrec, Johannesburg, South Africa |
| Owner | City of Johannesburg |
| Operator | Stadium Management South Africa |
| Executive suites | 195 |
| Capacity | 94,736 |
| Record attendance | 94,807 (Kaizer Chiefs vs Orlando Pirates, 1 August 2015)[2][3] |
| Field size | 105 × 68 m |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1986 |
| Built | 1987–1989 |
| Opened | 7 October 1989 |
| Renovated | 2007–2009 |
| Expanded | 2009 |
| Construction cost | ZAR 3.3 billion (US$440 million) |
| Architect | Boogertman & Partners, HOK Sport (now Populous)[1] |
| Builder | Grinaker-LTA/ BAM International |
| Structural engineer | Schlaich Bergermann & Partner |
| Tenants | |
| Kaizer Chiefs South Africa national football team South Africa national rugby union team | |
| Website | |
| www | |
First National Bank Stadium or simply FNB Stadium, also known as Soccer City and The Calabash, is an association football (soccer) and Rugby union stadium located in Nasrec, bordering the Soweto area of Johannesburg, South Africa. The site is managed by Stadium Management South Africa (SMSA)[4] and is home of Kaizer Chiefs F.C. in the South African Premier Soccer League as well as the venue for key fixtures for the South Africa national football team.
It is located next to the South African Football Association headquarters (SAFA House) where both the FIFA offices and the Local Organising Committee for the 2010 FIFA World Cup are housed.[5] Designed as the main association football stadium for the 2010 World Cup, the FNB Stadium became the largest stadium in Africa with a capacity of 94,736. However, its maximum capacity during the 2010 FIFA World Cup was 84,490 due to reserved seating for the press and VIPs. The stadium is also known by its nickname "The Calabash" due to its resemblance to the African pot[6] or gourd.
It was the site of Nelson Mandela's first speech in Johannesburg after his release from prison in 1990, and served as the venue for a memorial service to him on 10 December 2013.[7][8] It was also the site of the funeral of anti-apartheid activists Chris Hani (on 19 April 1993) and Oliver Tambo (on 2 May 1993).[7] It was also the venue for the 2010 FIFA World Cup Final, which was played by the Netherlands and Spain. The World Cup closing ceremony on the day of the final saw the final public appearance of Mandela.[9]
It was also the official venue of the 10th anniversary celebration of the Economic Freedom Fighters on 29 July 2023.[10]
- ^ "Soccer City – POPULOUS". populous.com. Archived from the original on 27 February 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
- ^ "2015 Carling Black Label Cup"
- ^ "Carling Black Label Cup Soweto Derby breaks FNB Stadium attendance record"
- ^ Stadium Management South Africa,"FNB Stadium", stadiummanagement.co.za, 26 June 2015. Retrieved 2016-04-06.
- ^ "Soccer City". FIFA. Archived from the original on 17 June 2007. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
- ^ "The African Pot Takes Shape". Archived from the original on 15 July 2010. Retrieved 7 July 2010.
- ^ a b 2010 FIFA World Cup – Soccer City. In: fifa.com. Retrieved 2010-06-10.
- ^ "Minister collins chabane: Nelson mandela state funeral update". Archived from the original on 28 April 2014. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
- ^ "Nelson Mandela, South Africa's anti-apartheid icon, dies aged 95". The Telegraph. Retrieved 10 December 2013
- ^ Masuabi, Queenin (30 July 2023). "Malema celebrates EFF's 10th anniversary with lots of promises and a vow to unseat the ANC in 2024". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 14 December 2023.