FNB Stadium

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FNB Stadium
Location	Johannesburg, South Africa
Opened	1987
Renovated	2009
Owner	South African Football Association
Surface	Grass
Architect	Schlaich Bergermann und Partner
Tenants	South Africa national football team
Capacity	104,000 (football)

First National Bank Stadium (FNB Stadium or Soccer City) is a stadium built in 1987, located in Johannesburg, South Africa. It is the central venue for the South African Football Association (SAFA) and will host the 2010 World Cup Final. A football-specific stadium, the FNB Stadium seats 78,000 people in plastic bucket seats. The stadium has the third largest capacity in Africa. Most of the largest football events in South Africa are played at the FNB and the venue is better suited to these events than nearby Ellis Park, where the final for the Rugby World Cup in 1995 was held.

Construction work in progress at Soccer City in preperation for FIFA 2010

The Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg is to undergo a major upgrade for the 2010 tournament, with a new design inspired by traditional African pottery and a revamped capacity for 87,500 fans. The upper tier will be extended around the stadium to increase the capacity to 87,500 with an extra 99 Executive suites, an encircling roof will be constructed, new changing room facilities will be developed and new floodlights will be installed. The R1.5 billion tender to upgrade the stadium was won by Grinaker-LTA. Soccer City is scheduled for completion in 2009. On January 19, 2007, Grinaker-LTA issued a press statement that mentioned the beginning of the constructions within two weeks.

The stadium will hold the opening match, four more first-round matches, one second-round match one quarter-final and the final.

Soweto and the National Exhibition Centre in Nasrec are nearby.

[edit] See also

• 2010 FIFA World Cup

[edit] External links

• WorldStadiums.com entry

Coordinates: 26°14′5.27″S, 27°58′56.47″E