World Cup 2010 Stadiums: Moses Mabhida Stadium (Durban)

Moses Mabhida Stadium

With a 350m free span arch towering over the stadium, Moses Madhiba Stadium has a certain architectural resemblance to Wembley. But having been built on time and on budget, that's where its similarities with England's 'Home of Football' end.

The new 70,000+ all seater stadium is located on the site of the old Kings Park Soccer Stadium, which was demolished in 2006. There was a question mark at that time locally as to whether Durban needed a new sporting arena, especially one costing R2.5m. Given that the stadium has an athletics track, its legacy will hopefully live long after the World Cup, with major multi-sports events expected to be hosted here post 2010. There is also a sporting precinct adjacent to the ground, with facilities for swimming, athletics, rugby and golf.

The stadium itself is one of the most breathtaking of the 2010 World Cup. It's sweeping, three tier bowl should provide an atmosphere capable of making the hairs stand on end, even on the most ardent and well travelled football fan. A cable car will run along the 106-m high arch that spans the length of the pitch.

Durban has a long standing love for football. It was in the KwaZulu-Natal Province that the country's first competitive league was set up. The old Kings Park Soccer Stadium hosted the first post-apartheid football match on July 7, 1992, with South Africa beating Cameroon 1-0. The venue was also used throughout the 1996 African Cup of Nations.

In 2010, Durban will once again be at the forefront of a major competition, hosting five group games, a second round game, quarter-final and semi final during the World Cup.

A £30m naming rights deal with the Coca-Cola Company saw the stadium become known as Coca-Cola Park in 2008. Unlike other FIFA World Cup venues, Coca-Cola Park will be able to use its commercial name during the 2010 tournament because the soft drinks giant is a major FIFA sponsor.

The Moses Mabhida stadium is named after a former leader of the South African Communist Party, and will host seven matches during the World Cup.

The ground's capacity will rise by 5,000 to 65,000 for the World Cup, with extra seating constructed on the north stand. There will also be new hospitality features and changing rooms for the venue hosting five group games, a second round game and a quarter-final.

Stadium Access

Significant investment has been made to improve transport links to and from Durban city centre and the Moses Madhiba Stadium. Public transport lanes have been installed on the M4 motorway, which will allow bus users to experience fast links to and from the ground. A new railway station has also been built adjacent to the stadium.

Another Durban innovation will be the introduction of 'people-mover' buses during the tournament. These large, air conditioned coaches will travel along the east coast giving football fans some stunning sights to see on non-match days. There will be an official FIFA fan park located on the beach front.

There are a number of Park & Ride facilities available during the World Cup at a number of Durban's main shopping centres. Confirmed sites include the Pavilion Shopping Centre in Westville and Gateway Shopping Centre in Umhlanga.

Durban currently has the smallest of South Africa's three declared international airports, with a single north-south runway. This airport will be decommissioned in 2010, with visitors to the World Cup travelling instead to the newly built King Shaka International Airport, located 35 miles north of Durban. There are plans to connect the new airport to Durban by rail, but this will not be ready in time for the World Cup. Instead visitors should use shuttle buses or taxis.

durban.gov.za

See an access map to the stadium

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