| Independence Stadium | |
|---|---|
| Location | Lusaka, Zambia |
| Built | 1964 |
| Opened | 1964 |
| Owner | Nationally owned |
| Operator | Government |
| Capacity | 30,000 |
| Tenants | |
| Zambia national football team | |
Independence Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Lusaka, Zambia. It was originally built in the mid-1960s for use in hosting the country's independence celebrations. It is currently used mostly for football matches. The stadium holds 30,000 people.[1]
In 2004, the stadium was closed by the then national sports minister citing safety concerns due to the age and status of the building. The order was repealed in 2005, though safety concerns remained. As of 2007, the aging stadium is slated to undergo renovations to bring its structure and facilities up to internationally accepted standards as well as deal with its various safety issues.[2] The stadium's west grandstand was demolished in late 2007.
A new 70,000-seat stadium, currently referred to as New Lusaka Stadium, would have been built next to the Independence Stadium for Lusaka's hosting of the 2011 All-Africa Games before Lusaka withdrew its hosting duties due to lack of funds. The games were given to Maputo.