Name: Soccer City Stadium, Johannesburg
Built: 1987 (Upgraded in 2009)
Cost: $440 million
Home to: South Africa National Team
WORLD CUP MATCHES
June 11, South Africa vs. Mexico
June 14, Netherlands vs. Denmark
June 17, Argentina vs. South Korea, June 20, Brazil vs. Ivory
Coast
June 23, Ghana vs. Germany
June 27, Round of 16 match
July 2, Quarterfinal match
July 11, World Cup final
Trivia: The stands in Soccer City are highlighted with ten black vertical lines, geographically aligned with the nine other World Cup stadiums in South Africa, and a tenth line directed towards the 2006 World Cup final Olympic Stadium in Berlin.
VENUE INFORMATION:
In the continuing traditions of stadiums such as the Allianz
Arena in Munich, or the 'Bird's Nest' in China, Soccer City's new
design is a radical departure from stadiums of old.
The design is inspired by the iconic African pot known as the calabash, and when lit at night, the stadium will bring out all the colors that have come to symbolize Africa.
The crown jewel of South Africa's new and improved stadiums, Soccer City is now the largest in Africa, and certainly its most awe-inspiring.
Formerly known as the FNB Stadium, the venue played host to Nelson Mandela's first major rally after his release from prison in 1990. At that time, it had a capacity of 80,000.
Showcasing the new stadium will be simple as Soccer City will host the first match of the 2010 World Cup, and the final on July 11.
CITY INFORMATION
The largest city in South Africa, Johannesburg is the focal
point of the entire nation’s economy. Known as the
‘City of Gold,’ Jo’burg serves as the
country’s financial hub and gateway to the rest of the world.
But don’t let the concrete fool you – while the city is
bursting with life, it is also surprisingly green and loaded with
thousands of parks.
A city richly diverse in cultural history, Johannesburg boasts the largest population of foreigners of any city in South Africa. Tourists can find any number of destinations within the city to meet their cultural needs, or simply bask in the magnitude of the nation’s largest metropolis.
HISTORY
The region surrounding Johannesburg is also incredibly rich
in mineral deposits, a major reason European settlers descended on
it in the late 1800’s. Johannesburg became a city in 1886,
during the beginning of the Witwatersrand Gold Rush.
Another famous aspect of the city is that it was at the center of the Apartheid debate which kept South Africa isolated from world affairs for a number of years until its abolishment in 1994. One hot spot during the Apartheid years was the famous township of Soweto – the largest in South Africa – which was home to a number of revolutionaries in the fight against segregation.
ACCOMODATION
To learn more about the struggle, visit the Apartheid Museum
in Johannesburg, where every aspect of South Africa’s history
is covered in great detail. Cherished by locals, this cultural site
represents the fight for freedom and the nation’s continuing
struggle to put the past behind and move on towards a brighter
future.
