The Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace is a football, rugby and athletics stadium in Phokeng near Rustenburg, South Africa. It was built and is managed by the Royal Bafokeng Nation.[3] It was used as the home stadium for Premier Soccer League club Platinum Stars. The Leopards rugby team host large attendance matches during the Currie Cup at the stadium, instead of their usual home ground, Olën Park.
 | |
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| Full name | Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace |
|---|---|
| Address | South Africa[1] |
| Location | R565 (Sun City Road), Phokeng, South Africa |
| Coordinates | 25°34′43″S 27°09′39″E / 25.5786°S 27.1607°E |
| Owner | Royal Bafokeng Nation |
| Capacity | 44,530[2] |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1995 |
| Built | 1996-1998 |
| Opened | 1999 |
| Renovated | 2007-2009 |
| Expanded | 2009 |
| Tenants | |
| Platinum Stars F.C. (2006–2018) | |
The capacity of the stadium was increased from 38,000 to 42,000 to be able to host five first-round matches and one second-round match at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.[4]
For the 2010 tournament, the main west stand was upgraded and enlarged and given a new cantilever roof. Other improvements include the installation of new electronic scoreboards, new seats, and upgraded floodlights and public address system.
The stadium upgrade was completed in March 2009 for hosting 4 matches of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup.[5]
Sporting and Miscellaneous events
edit2009 FIFA Confederations Cup
editRoyal Bafokeng Stadium was one of the host venues for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup.
| Date | Time (UTC+2) | Team No. 1 | Result | Team No. 2 | Round | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 June 2009 | 20:30 |  New Zealand |
0–5 |  Spain |
Group A | 21,649 |
| 17 June 2009 | 20.30 |  South Africa |
2–0 | New Zealand |
36,598 | |
| 21 June 2009 | 20:30 |  Egypt |
0–3 |  United States |
Group B | 23,140 |
| 28 June 2009 | 15:00 | Spain |
3–2 | South Africa |
3rd/4th Place Play-off | 31,788 |
2010 FIFA World Cup
editIn the World Cup, the stadium hosted five first round matches and one second round match and was the second smallest stadium for the tournament.
Matches
edit| Date | Time (UTC+2) | Team No. 1 | Result | Team No. 2 | Round | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 June 2010 | 20:30 |  England |
1–1 | United States |
Group C | 38,646 |
| 15 June 2010 | 13:30 | New Zealand |
1–1 |  Slovakia |
Group F | 23,871 |
| 19 June 2010 | 16:00 |  Ghana |
1–1 |  Australia |
Group D | 34,812 |
| 22 June 2010 | 16:00 |  Mexico |
0–1 |  Uruguay |
Group A | 33,425 |
| 24 June 2010 | 20:30 |  Denmark |
1–3 |  Japan |
Group E | 27,967 |
| 26 June 2010 | 20:30 | United States |
1–2 | Ghana |
Round of 16 | 34,976 |
2013 Africa Cup of Nations
editRoyal Bafokeng Stadium served as one of the host venues for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.
| Date | Time (UTC+2) | Team No. 1 | Result | Team No. 2 | Round | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 January 2013 | 17:00 |  Ivory Coast |
2–1 |  Togo |
Group D | 2,000 |
| 20:00 |  Tunisia |
1–0 |  Algeria |
8,000 | ||
| 26 January 2013 | 17:00 | Ivory Coast |
3–0 | Tunisia |
20,000 | |
| 20:00 | Algeria |
0–2 | Togo |
35,000 | ||
| 29 January 2013 | 20:00 |  Ethiopia |
0–2 |  Nigeria |
Group C | 15,000 |
| 30 January 2013 | 20:00 | Algeria |
2–2 | Ivory Coast |
Group D | 5,000 |
| 3 February 2013 | 17:00 | Ivory Coast |
1–2 | Nigeria |
Quarter-finals | 25,000 |
2019 Fill Up Royal Bafokeng
editIn 2019, South African star Cassper Nyovest announced that his annual one man show "Fill Up" will be heading to North West and Royal Bafokeng Stadium will be hosting his concert named Fill Up Royal Bafokeng
On the 15th of December 2019, Cassper Nyovest held his 5th concert at Royal Bafokeng with a capacity of over 40,000
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Royal Bafokeng Stadium - Rustenburg - the Stadium Guide".
- ^ "Royal Bafokeng Stadium". Stuff. 9 May 2010. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ^ "Sports Palace | Royal Bafokeng Nation". Bafokeng.com. Retrieved 18 May 2010.
- ^ "Royal Bafokeng Stadium: 2010 Venue – Sportslens". soccerlens.com. 4 December 2009. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ^ FIFA.com. "FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017 - Destination - FIFA". FIFA. Archived from the original on 1 August 2008. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
External links
edit
Media related to Royal Bafokeng Stadium at Wikimedia Commons- Photos of Stadiums in South Africa at cafe.daum.net/stade
- 360 View
- Official Site Link
