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.
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.
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.
Facts
- City: Rustenburg
- Surface: Grass
- Capacity: 42,000
- 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.
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.
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.
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