eSgodini, eSika Maminzela iSgodi | |
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 Interactive map of Orlando Stadium | |
| Location | Mooki St.,Orlando East,Soweto,Johannesburg,South Africa |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 26°13′54.82″S27°55′22.41″E / 26.2318944°S 27.9228917°E /-26.2318944; 27.9228917 |
| Owner | City of Johannesburg |
| Operator | Stadium Management South Africa |
| Capacity | 37,313 |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1959 |
| Renovated | 2008–2010 |
| Construction cost | R280 million (2008 refurbishment)[1] |
| Tenants | |
| Orlando Pirates (1970–present) | |
Orlando Stadium, officially known asOrlando Amstel Arena for sponsorship reasons,[3] is amulti-purpose stadium inSoweto, atownship inJohannesburg, inGauteng province inSouth Africa. It is the home venue forOrlando Pirates Football Club, a professional soccer team that plays in thePremiership, and is owned by the City of Johannesburg.
Orlando Stadium has hosted an MTN 8 Cup Final and a Nedbank Cup Final.
It is currently used mostly forsoccer matches, as the home stadium ofOrlando Pirates, and was intended to be utilized as a training field for teams participating in the2010 FIFA World Cup after it was completely rebuilt to FIFA specifications and reopened on 22 November 2008. In addition to the stadium capacity of 36,761 people, there is an auditorium for 200 people, 120 hospitality suites, a gymnasium and a conference centre.[4]
The stadium was originally built for the Johannesburg Bantu Football Association and it had a seating capacity of 24,000 and cost £37,500 to construct. It was opened by the Minister for Bantu development, MC de Wet Nel, andIan Maltz who was thenMayor of Johannesburg on 2 May 1959.[5][6]
Although intended for football the stadium has been used for concerts by the Jazz musiciansMolombo and by theO'Jays. Boxing matches were also staged including the 1975 victory ofElijah 'Tap Tap' Makhatini over the world welterweight and middleweight championEmile Griffith.[7]
On 16 June 1976, thousands of black students marched to Orlando Stadium to protest at having to learn theAfrikaans language. It was intended to be arally and although it was organised some of the students only joined the protest on the day. It was planned to be a peaceful protest by the Soweto Students’ Representative Council's (SSRC) Action Committee. The marchers got as far as their last meeting point when the police and tear gas arrived. The day ended in deaths and this was the start of theSoweto Uprising.[8]
In 1978, the Orlando Pirates took onPhil Venter who had been the first White National Football Association player to play for a black side. He was soon joined by another white playerKeith Broad.[9]
In 1995, the stadium played host to the funeral of African National Congress stalwart,Joe Slovo, as well as that ofWalter Sisulu in 2003 whereThabo Mbeki,Nelson Mandela,Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique,Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, andPakalitha Mosisili of Lesotho were among the mourners.[7]
In 2011, the stadium hosted the funeral ofAlbertina Sisulu whereJacob Zuma,Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania, andKenneth Kaunda of Zambia were among the mourners, and also hosted the funeral ofWinnie Mandela in 2018 whereCyril Ramaphosa;former presidentsThabo Mbeki,Kgalema Motlanthe, andJacob Zuma;Hage Geingob of Namibia;Denis Sassou Nguesso of Congo-Brazzaville;Mokgweetsi Masisi of Botswana; andNaomi Campbell of Britain were amongst the mourners.
In 1994, South Africa became democratic. On the anniversary of the Soweto Uprising,Nelson Mandela gave a speech at this stadium, where he committed the country to look after its children.[7]
From 2008 to 2010, the stadium was rebuilt with a steel frame and this increased the capacity to 36,761 at a cost of 280m Rand.[citation needed]
The stadium hosted aSuper 14Rugby unionsemi-final in 2010, as well as the2010 Super 14 Final, a week later. This was due to theBulls' usual home groundLoftus Versfeld Stadium being unavailable, due to the2010 FIFA World Cup.[10][11] Orlando Stadium was used as a training venue for the2010 FIFA World Cup, it also hosted theFIFA World Cup Kick-Off Celebration Concert on 10 June 2010, featuring artists such asHugh Masekela, theParlotones,Freshlyground, theSoweto Gospel Choir,Alicia Keys,The Who,Kelly Clarkson,Mariah Carey,Rod Stewart, theDave Matthews Band,Manfred Mann's Earth Band,Justin Bieber,John Legend, theBlack Eyed Peas, andShakira.
