Free State Stadium

Free State Stadium
Vodacom Park Stadium
South Africa-Bloemfontein-Free State Stadium01.jpg
Location Bloemfontein, South Africa
Built 1995
Opened 1995
Renovated 2008
Expanded 2007
Surface Grass
Capacity 40,911[1]
Tenants
Central Cheetahs
Free State Cheetahs
Bloemfontein Celtic

The Free State Stadium (Afrikaans: Vrystaatstadion), also known as Vodacom Park, is a stadium in Bloemfontein, South Africa, used mainly for rugby union and association football. It was originally built for the 1995 Rugby World Cup, and was one of the venues for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

The primary rugby union tenants of the facility are:

The primary association football tenant is:

Contents

Notable matches

1995 Rugby World Cup

The stadium was one of the host venues for the 1995 Rugby World Cup. It hosted first round matches in Pool C during the tournament.

Date Team #1 Res. Team #2 Round Attendance
1995-05-27  Japan 10–57  Wales Group C 12,000
1995-05-31  Ireland 50–28  Japan Group C 15,000
1995-06-04  Japan 17–145  New Zealand Group C 17,000

1996 African Cup of Nations

The Free State Stadium was one of venues used for the 1996 African Cup of Nations. It hosted six group matches and a quarter-final match:

Date Time (UTC+2) Team #1 Res. Team #2 Round Attendance
1996-01-14 Zambia Zambia 0–0 Algeria Algeria Group B 9,000
1996-01-15 Sierra Leone Sierra Leone 2–1 Burkina Faso Burkina Faso Group B 1,500
1996-01-18 Algeria Algeria 2–0 Sierra Leone Sierra Leone Group B 1,500
1996-01-20 Zambia Zambia 5–1 Burkina Faso Burkina Faso Group B 2,000
1996-01-24 Zambia Zambia 4–0 Sierra Leone Sierra Leone Group B 200
1996-01-25 Ghana Ghana 2–0 Mozambique Mozambique Group D 3,500
1996-01-27 Zambia Zambia 3–1 Egypt Egypt Quarter-finals 8,500

2009 FIFA Confederations Cup

The Free State Stadium was one of the host venues for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup.

Date Time (UTC+2) Team #1 Res. Team #2 Round Attendance
2009-06-15 16:00 Brazil Brazil 4–3 Egypt Egypt Group B 27,851
2009-06-17 16:00 Spain Spain 1–0 Iraq Iraq Group A 30,512
2009-06-20 20:30 Spain Spain 2–0 South Africa South Africa Group A 38,212
2009-06-24 20:30 Spain Spain 0–2 United States United States Semi-final 35,369

2010 FIFA World Cup

In advance of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, a second tier was added to the main grandstand on the western side of the ground, increasing the net capacity from 36,538[2] to 40,911. Additionally, new turnstiles were created, the floodlights upgraded, electronic scoreboards installed, the sound system revamped to the required standards, and CCTV and media facilities improved.

Bloemfontein received R221 million to upgrade the stadium. Though cost estimates were at R245 million, the city decided to stand in for the R24m shortfall [3]. Tenders were advertised in February & March 2007. Upgrade work started in July 2007.[4]

Date Time (UTC+2) Team #1 Res. Team #2 Round Attendance
2010-06-14 16.00 Japan Japan 1–0 Cameroon Cameroon Group E 30,620
2010-06-17 16.00 Greece Greece 2–1 Nigeria Nigeria Group B 31,593
2010-06-20 13.30 Slovakia Slovakia 0–2 Paraguay Paraguay Group F 26,643
2010-06-22 16.00 France France 1–2 South Africa South Africa Group A 39,415
2010-06-25 20.30 Switzerland Switzerland 0–0 Honduras Honduras Group H 28,042
2010-06-27 16.00 Germany Germany 4–1 England England Round of 16 40,510

References

  1. ↑ FIFA.com – Free State Stadium, Mangaung/Bloemfontein
  2. ↑ "fussballtemple". Fussballtempel.net. http://www.fussballtempel.net/caf/listecaf.html. Retrieved 2010-06-17. 
  3. ↑ "Sunday Times". Sunday Times. http://www.sundaytimes.co.za/SpecialReports/2010WorldCup/Article.aspx?id=361806. Retrieved 2010-06-17. 
  4. ↑ "Official upgrade progress report as at May 2008" (PDF). http://www.bloemfontein.co.za/docs/Free%20State%20stadium%20progress%20report_May08.pdf. Retrieved 2010-06-17. 

See also

External links

Venues of the 1995 Rugby World Cup South Africa

Ellis Park (Johannesburg) • Loftus Versfeld (Pretoria) • Newlands (Cape Town) • Kings Park Stadium (Durban) • Boet Erasmus Stadium (Port Elizabeth) • Free State Stadium (Bloemfontein) • Olympia Park (Rustenburg) • Basil Kenyon Stadium (East London) • Danie Craven Stadium (Stellenbosch)
Venues of the 1996 African Cup of Nations

Soccer City (Johannesburg) • Kings Park Stadium (Durban) • Free State Stadium (Bloemfontein) • EPRU Stadium (Port Elizabeth)
Venues of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup

Ellis Park Stadium (Johannesburg) • Loftus Versfeld Stadium (Pretoria) • Free State Stadium (Bloemfontein) • Royal Bafokeng Stadium (Rustenburg)
2010 FIFA World Cup Stadia

Cape Town Stadium (Cape Town) • Ellis Park Stadium (Johannesburg) • Free State Stadium (Bloemfontein) • Loftus Versfeld Stadium (Pretoria) • Mbombela Stadium (Nelspruit) • Moses Mabhida Stadium (Durban) • Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium (Port Elizabeth) • Peter Mokaba Stadium (Polokwane) • Royal Bafokeng Stadium (Rustenburg) • Soccer City (Johannesburg)
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