Ellis Park Stadium, also known as Emirates Airline Park for sponsorship reasons, is a famous sports stadium in Johannesburg, Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is a rugby union and association football stadium. It is also known as Emirates Airline Park due to sponsorship reasons. Ellis Park Stadium is located in the Johannesburg city in the Province of Gauteng in South Africa.
Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa
Origins and Naming
The stadium was originally named after J. D. Ellis, who made the area for the stadium available. It was titled as "Ellis Park" after Mr. J.D. Ellis, who strived to make the area available for the stadium. In between 2008-2012, the stadium was known as Coca-Cola Park due to naming rights agreements with the Coca-Cola Company.
Early History
In 1889, the Transvaal Rugby Football Union (now called the Golden Lions Rugby Union) was formed. The first games were played at the Wanderers Club's stadium whose grounds were situated where Johannesburg Park Station is today. But there were disagreements between rugby clubs and the Wanderers Club, which wanted the field for cricket.
In 1927, an area with a quarry and garbage dumps in Doornfontein was identified as the possible alternative. The Transvaal Rugby Football Union negotiated with the Johannesburg City Council's J. D. Ellis for the availability of these grounds and 13 acres (about 52,600 square meters) was made available. On 10 October 1927 the final rental agreement was signed.
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The stadium was built very quickly, in just eight months. A quote of £600 was accepted for the grass and with a loan from the city council to the amount of £5,000, the building of the new stadium could commence. In June 1928, the first international rugby match was played there against the All Blacks from New Zealand. Thus was born Ellis Park which became internationally renowned and synonymous with rugby.
Ellis Park also hosted cricket matches for a while. From 1947 to 1956, many cricket games were played there, including matches against New Zealand. It hosted six important Test matches between 1948 and 1954. However, it hasn't been used for top-level cricket since the New Wanderers Stadium opened in 1956.
Renovations and Upgrades
On 28 April 1969 the Transvaal Rugby Football Union formed a stadium committee to investigate the possibilities of a new stadium since the one in use did not meet all the modern requirements. So, in 1979, the old Ellis Park was taken down. While the new stadium was being built, games were played at the Wanderers. When it was upgraded in 1982, Ellis Park became the most modern stadium in the country. It could hold almost 60,000 people.
A new Transvaal Rugby Football Union management was elected in 1984 with Louis Luyt as chairman and Joe Poolman as his deputy. The decision was taken to place Ellis Park Stadium under the management of a trust.
Although the Ellis Park Stadium was already a regular host of major sports matches (having first been constructed in 1928), it underwent a major renovation to accommodate the millions of international players and fans that came to South Africa for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
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The renovations included adding new upper tiers behind each goal and expanding its seating capacity to 70 000 (from 60 000). It is now equipped with state-of-the-art audio-visual and technical equipment, media facilities, access for the physically disabled, nine conference venues, executive suites, and banqueting facilities.
Significant Events
Ellis Park has hosted all forms of football games. League, provincial, and international football games have all been played at the stadium, and it has seen such teams as Brazil, Manchester United and Arsenal play.
In 1995, South Africa hosted the 1995 Rugby World Cup. The final match was held at Ellis Park on June 24 in front of 65,000 spectators. On 24 June 1995 the South African national rugby team, the Springboks, defeated New Zealand’s All Blacks 15-12 in the Rugby World Cup at this stadium.
This event became an international news story as the country’s first democratically elected president, Nelson Mandela, took to the pitch wearing a Springboks shirt to hand the trophy to Springbok captain Francois Pienaar. South Africans of all races were united in celebration and that moment is considered a key stepping stone towards the creation of a united South Africa after decades of systematised racial discrimination.
Nelson Mandela with the Webb Ellis Cup at the 1995 Rugby World Cup
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Ellis Park was also one of the stadiums used for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. Ellis Park hosted five group games, one second-round game and one quarter-final of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, for which its capacity was increased by 5,000 seats on the northern side only, to 62,000. Areas like the Presidential suite also received a facelift. There was also a hospitality room and new changing rooms.
On 12 January 1985, Ellis Park Stadium was the venue for Concert in the Park, a benefit concert organised by Hilton Rosenthal. Whitney Houston's concert was recorded and released as a home video titled: Whitney: The Concert for a New South Africa). A year later also Roxette's concert during the Crash! Boom! Bang!
1995 Rugby World Cup Final - South Africa v New Zealand - Extended Highlights
Incidents
On January 17, 2007, during a Premiership football match between Orlando Pirates and Black Leopards, strong winds blew several sideline advertising boards onto the pitch, striking a linesman and three players. Play resumed 7 minutes later, but the match was ultimately abandoned 6 minutes before full-time due to sudden torrential rains and lightning.
On April 11, 2001, a crowd crush occurred during a soccer game between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs. A large crowd pushed forward, and 43 people lost their lives.
Ownership
In 2005 Ellis Park became the first black-owned stadium in South Africa. The Golden Lions Rugby Football Union passed the management of the Ellis Park Precinct to a company with 51% black ownership.
Current Use
Today, the stadium hosts both football and rugby and is also used as a venue for other large events, such as open-air concerts. The stadium predominantly hosts Association Football and Rugby Union events. Today, the stadium is managed by Interza Lesego, Orlando Pirates Football Club and Ellis Park World of Sport.
Besides sporting events, the stadium is also used for conferences and has nine conferencing venues, which can host up to 1,000 people at a time.
The stadium was originally developed as a rugby venue and is still the home ground of two rugby teams (Lions and Golden Lions).
| Name | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Ellis Park Stadium |
| Former Names | Coca-Cola Park (2008-12) |
| Location | Johannesburg, Gauteng Province, South Africa |
| Main Use | Rugby Union and Association Football |
| Capacity | Approximately 62,000 |
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