Located in
Rustenburg, in
the north west
province, the
Royal Bafokeng
Stadium was
opened in 1999
and completely
funded by the
Royal Bafokeng
community, an
administrative
entity presiding
over the world's
richest platinum
mines. Access is
simple as it is
built on open
land and so has
extensive
parking
facilities. It
is a 90
minute drive
from
Johannesburg
to the stadium.
The stadium is
currently a
multi-purpose
venue which
includes an
athletics track.
It is
already very
well-equipped
and will require
only minor
renovations to
bring it up to
FIFA standards.
The capacity of
the stadium will
be increased to
40,000 with the
construction of
two additional
rows of seating
on the second
level.
New electronic
scoreboards,
floodlights and
a new public
address system
will fulfil all
the requirements
for it to host
the first and
second round
matches of the
2010 World Cup.
The Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace is a rugby union and football (soccer) stadium in Rustenburg, South Africa. It was originally built as a venue for the 1995 Rugby World Cup. It was named after the Royal Bafokeng Nation.
The Royal
Bafokeng Stadium
in Rustenburg,
North West
province, is to
be upgraded,
increasing its
capacity to 45
000. It will
host four
first-round
matches and one
in the second
round.
(Image: South
Africa 2010
Local Organising
Committee)
Although
originally built
as a rugby
stadium, the
stadium has
become more of a
football stadium
after the 1995
Rugby World Cup.
Like most soccer
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 because of
this, the
stadium has been
kept in very
good repair.
The current
capacity of the
stadium is
38,000. Only
minor
renovations will
be required to
bring this
stadium into
line with
requirements for
a stadium able
to host first
and second round
matches at the
Football World
Cup 2010. The
capacity will be
increased to
42,000.
For 2010,
essentially
cosmetic
measures such as
installation of
new electronic
scoreboards and
upgrading of the
floodlights and
public address
system will
render the Royal
Bafokeng Sports
Palace ready to
welcome the
football
supporters of
the world
