Visiting Ellis Park Stadium
Construction of Ellis Park began in 1927. From the start, the venue was designed to host rugby union matches, originally played by the Transvaal team. The project was spearheaded by JD Ellis, a Johannesburg city councilor, and the stadium was named in his honor once completed on a site spanning over 12 acres. The grand opening took place in June 1928, marked by a marquee event: a test match between South Africa and New Zealand. While cricket matches were also held here between 1947 and 1956, the facility was considered outdated by the late 1970s. It was subsequently demolished and rebuilt. The new stadium was inaugurated in 1982 with a capacity of 60,000 seats.
A South African sports icon
The stadium hosted its most historic matches in 1995. During the Rugby World Cup held in South Africa, the arena served as the site for the final where the Springboks secured their first world title against their longtime rivals, the New Zealand All Blacks. In 1999, the pitch hosted another landmark event when a World XV team played an African selection to honor the retirement of Nelson Mandela from South African politics. During the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the stadium hosted seven matches, including a quarter-final where Spain defeated Paraguay 1-0 on their way to winning the tournament. Today, Ellis Park serves as the home ground for the Lions rugby team and the Orlando Pirates of the Premier Soccer League. Its classic English-style stands are built for an intense atmosphere that keeps the energy high during every match.
This stadium regularly hosts rugby and soccer matches. The atmosphere there is nice and friendly.