Free State Stadium

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Toyota Stadium
Free State Stadium1.jpg
Free State Stadium
Full nameToyota Stadium
Former namesVodacom Park
LocationKings Way, Bloemfontein, South Africa
Coordinates 29°7′2″S26°12′32″E / 29.11722°S 26.20889°E / -29.11722; 26.20889
Public transit Bloemfontein railway station
Operator Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality
Executive suites100 [1]
Capacity 42,000 [2]
Field size100 by 70 metres (330 ft × 230 ft)
Surface Ryegrass [3]
Scoreboardyes
Construction
Built1955 [4]
Renovated1995
Expanded2009
Tenants
Cheetahs
Free State Cheetahs
Bloemfontein Celtic

The Free State Stadium (Afrikaans : Vrystaatstadion), currently known as the Toyota Stadium for sponsorship reasons and formerly known as Vodacom Park, is a stadium in Bloemfontein in the Free State of South Africa, used mainly for rugby union and also sometimes for association football. It was originally built for the 1995 Rugby World Cup, and was one of the venues for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Contents

The primary rugby union tenants of the facility are the Free State Cheetahs, which participate in South Africa's domestic competition, the Currie Cup. Previously, the Cheetahs represented the Free State and Northern Cape provinces in the international Pro14 competition.

Until their sale before the start of the 2021–22 South African Premier Division, the primary association football tenant was Bloemfontein Celtic, who played in South Africa's domestic Premier Soccer League.

Notable matches

1995 Rugby World Cup

The stadium was one of the host venues for the 1995 Rugby World Cup. It hosted first-round matches in Pool C during the tournament.

DateTeam #1Res.Team #2RoundAttendance
27 May 1995Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg  Japan 10–57Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Group C 12,000
31 May 1995IRFU flag.svg  Ireland 50–28Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg  Japan 15,000
4 June 19951Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg  Japan 17–145Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 17,000

1996 African Cup of Nations

The Free State Stadium was one of venues used for the 1996 African Cup of Nations. It hosted six group matches and a quarter-final match:

DateTime (SAST)Team #1ResultTeam #2RoundAttendance
14 January 1996Flag of Zambia (1964-1996).svg  Zambia 0–0Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria Group B9,000
15 January 1996Flag of Sierra Leone.svg  Sierra Leone 2–1Flag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso 1,500
18 January 1996Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria 2–0Flag of Sierra Leone.svg  Sierra Leone 1,500
20 January 1996Flag of Zambia (1964-1996).svg  Zambia 5–1Flag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso 2,000
24 January 19964–0Flag of Sierra Leone.svg  Sierra Leone 200
25 January 1996Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana 2–0Flag of Mozambique.svg  Mozambique Group D3,500
27 January 1996Flag of Zambia (1964-1996).svg  Zambia 3–1Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt Quarter-finals8,500

2009 FIFA Confederations Cup

The Free State Stadium was one of the host venues for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup.

DateTime (SAST)Team #1ResultTeam #2RoundAttendance
15 June 200916:00Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 4–3Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt Group B 27,851
17 June 200916:00Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 1–0Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq Group A 30,512
20 June 200920:302–0Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 38,212
24 June 20090–2Flag of the United States.svg  United States Semi-finals 35,369

2010 FIFA World Cup

Ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, a second tier was added to the main grandstand on the western side of the ground, increasing the net capacity from 36,538 [5] to 40,911. Additionally, new turnstiles were created, the floodlights upgraded, electronic scoreboards installed, the sound system revamped to the required standards, and CCTV and media facilities improved.

Bloemfontein received R221 million to upgrade the stadium. Though cost estimates were at R245 million, the city decided to stand in for the R24m shortfall. [6] Tenders were advertised in February and March 2007. Upgrade work started in July 2007. [7]

DateTime (SAST)Team #1ResultTeam #2RoundAttendance
14 June 201016.00Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 1–0Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon Group E 30,620
17 June 201016.00Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 2–1Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria Group B 31,593
20 June 201013.30Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia 0–2Flag of Paraguay (1990-2013).svg  Paraguay Group F 26,643
22 June 201016.00Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France 1–2Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa Group A 39,415
25 June 201020.30Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 0–0Flag of Honduras (1949-2022).svg  Honduras Group H 28,042
27 June 201016.00Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 4–1Flag of England.svg  England Round of 16 40,510

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Stadium | Toyota Cheetahs".
  2. ↑ "Stadium | Toyota Cheetahs".
  3. ↑ "Stadium | Toyota Cheetahs".
  4. ↑ "Stadium | Toyota Cheetahs".
  5. ↑ "fussballtemple". Fussballtempel.net. Retrieved 17 June 2010.
  6. ↑ "Sunday Times". Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 14 December 2019. Retrieved 17 June 2010.
  7. ↑ "Official upgrade progress report as at May 2008" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 July 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2010.
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