World Cup South Africa Stadium Guide - Royal Bafokeng Stadium

Rustenburg is one of the host cities for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, and the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace will host six matches during the showpiece event.
City: Rustenburg
Surface: Grass
Capacity: 42,000

The Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace is a rugby union, football and athletics stadium in Phokeng near Rustenburg, South Africa. It was originally built as a venue for the 1995 Rugby Union World Cup and was named after the Royal Bafokeng Nation, the tribe that is prominent in the area. Although originally built as a rugby stadium, the venue has been used for football more often than any other sport after the 1995 World Cup.

Like most football stadiums in South Africa, the ground belongs to the municipality in the area. The Bafokeng people are extremely rich because of platinum mining in the area and on their cultural land, and as a result of this, the stadium has been kept in very good repair. The capacity of the stadium was increased from 38,000 to 42,000 in preparation for the Confederations Cup and this year’s World Cup.


Royal Bafokeng Stadium Aerial View

For the 2010 event, the West Stand was substantially upgraded, enlarged and given a new cantilever roof. Other improvements include the installation of new electronic scoreboards, new seats, the upgrading of the floodlights and public address system, which has rendered the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace ready to welcome the football supporters of the world.

The stadium was built in a saddle shape to reflect its natural surroundings and upgrades were completed in March 2009 for the hosting of four matches during the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. Situated between the bush of the Pilanesberg and the bright lights of Sun City, this stadium will be a big draw for safari-seeking World Cup tourists.

During the 2010 World Cup matches, the Bafokeng Plaza is scheduled to operate as a shopping complex but with strict conditions that comply with FIFA and the host city agreements. Post 2010, the stadium will continue to host other sporting activities in the maintenance of its existence.


Royal Bafokeng Stadium View From The Stands

Facts

- 4,000 extra seats were installed.
- New and improved floodlights, electronic scoreboards and a new Public Address system have been installed.
- The new cantilever roof was purchased at the cost of US$45 million.
- South African PSL team Platinum Stars play their home games at this stadium.
- The stadium is only 25 minutes away from world famous entertainment resort and complex, Sun City.

History

The stadium is named after the Bafokeng people who live in the area. In 1999, the Bafokeng won a legal battle, which entitled them to 20% of the platinum, which is mined on their historical land. This is the venue where Bafana Bafana recorded their first victory at the 2009 Confederations Cup, against New Zealand, thereby ensuring their qualification to the next round.


The Stadium Is Well Maintained

Getting There

The stadium is only a 25-minute drive to Sun City and 30 minutes to the Pilanesberg. It is 12 kilometres from Rustenburg city centre and can be reached easily via car and added bus routes, which will be made available during the event, with extra buses running on match days to accommodate fans arriving in Rustenburg from the other host cities. Rustenburg is 165km from Johannesburg on a major highway, and the trip will take around two hours.

Pilanesberg International Airport is not far from Rustenburg and the stadium, as it is next to Sun City resort. Although this airport is one of ACSA's smaller airports, there are daily connections to Cape Town (which is a two-and-a-half hours away) and to Johannesburg (a 30-minute journey). Flights around the time of the World Cup are likely to be in short supply however, due to the size of the airport.


The Changing Rooms At The Venue

Plus and Minuses

Pluses

- A very well maintained stadium, the venue is often commended for being an example to others in terms of management and care of the facilities.

- The pitch is usually very well taken care of and as a result the stadium presents one of the better pitches out of all the stadiums.

- Gaining access to the venue will be easier than in certain cities where the stadium is in the CBD, as the Royal Bafokeng Stadium is located away from the city centre.

Minuses

- Remember to bring a scarf, as the Royal Bafokeng Stadium can get mighty chilly on winter nights, with the open design leaving spectators at the mercy of the cold.

- The venue is the only World Cup stadium which has an athletics track built around the pitch, meaning that spectators are further away from the action than they would be at another arena.


England - USA Will Bring The Crowds In

Games To Be Played

The stadium will host six games at this year’s World Cup, including a Round of 16 encounter. Denmark will meet Japan, Mexico and Uruguay will clash, whilst Ghana and Australia will also provide the Rustenburg arena with fine football. New Zealand will face Slovakia, and the big match at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium will see England taking on the USA.