Free State Stadium

Toyota Stadium
Former names Vodacom Park
Location Kings Way, Bloemfontein, South Africa
Coordinates 29°7′2″S 26°12′32″E / 29.11722°S 26.20889°E / -29.11722; 26.20889Coordinates: 29°7′2″S 26°12′32″E / 29.11722°S 26.20889°E / -29.11722; 26.20889
Public transit Bloemfontein railway station
Operator Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality
Capacity 46,000[1]
Surface Grass
Construction
Built 1995
Opened 1995
Renovated 2008
Expanded 2007
Tenants
Cheetahs
Free State Cheetahs
Bloemfontein Celtic

The Free State Stadium (Afrikaans: Vrystaatstadion), currently known as the Toyota Stadium for sponsorship reasons and formerly known as Vodacom Park, is a stadium in Bloemfontein, South Africa, used mainly for rugby union and also sometimes for 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:

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
27 May 1995 Japan10–57 WalesGroup C12,000
31 May 1995 Ireland50–28 JapanGroup C15,000
4 June 19951 Japan17–145 New ZealandGroup C17,000

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 (SAST) Team #1 Res. Team #2 Round Attendance
14 January 1996Zambia Zambia0–0Algeria AlgeriaGroup B9,000
15 January 1996Sierra Leone Sierra Leone2–1Burkina Faso Burkina FasoGroup B1,500
18 January 1996Algeria Algeria2–0Sierra Leone Sierra LeoneGroup B1,500
20 January 1996Zambia Zambia5–1Burkina Faso Burkina FasoGroup B2,000
24 January 1996Zambia Zambia4–0Sierra Leone Sierra LeoneGroup B200
25 January 1996Ghana Ghana2–0Mozambique MozambiqueGroup D3,500
27 January 1996Zambia Zambia3–1Egypt EgyptQuarter-finals8,500

2009 FIFA Confederations Cup

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

Date Time (SAST) Team #1 Res. Team #2 Round Attendance
15 June 200916:00Brazil Brazil4–3Egypt EgyptGroup B27,851
17 June 200916:00Spain Spain1–0Iraq IraqGroup A30,512
20 June 200920:30Spain Spain2–0South Africa South AfricaGroup A38,212
24 June 200920:30Spain Spain0–2United States United StatesSemi-finals35,369

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 (SAST) Team #1 Res. Team #2 Round Attendance
14 June 201016.00Japan Japan1–0Cameroon CameroonGroup E30,620
17 June 201016.00Greece Greece2–1Nigeria NigeriaGroup B31,593
20 June 201013.30Slovakia Slovakia0–2Paraguay ParaguayGroup F26,643
22 June 201016.00France France1–2South Africa South AfricaGroup A39,415
25 June 201020.30Switzerland Switzerland0–0Honduras HondurasGroup H28,042
27 June 201016.00Germany Germany4–1England EnglandRound of 1640,510

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.fscheetahs.co.za/stadium.aspx?TID=2
  2. ↑ "fussballtemple". Fussballtempel.net. Retrieved 2010-06-17.
  3. ↑ "Sunday Times". Sunday Times. Retrieved 2010-06-17.
  4. ↑ "Official upgrade progress report as at May 2008" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-27. Retrieved 2010-06-17.
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