Free State Stadium
{{Short description|Stadium in South Africa}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Use South African English|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox stadium
| stadium_name = Toyota Stadium
| nickname =
| image = File:Free State Stadium1.jpg
| fullname = Toyota Stadium
| location = Kings Way, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| coordinates = {{coord|29|7|2|S|26|12|32|E|type:landmark|display=it}}
| broke_ground =
| built = 1955{{Cite web|url=http://www.fscheetahs.co.za/stadium#stadium-history|title=Stadium | Toyota Cheetahs}}
| renovated = 1995
| expanded = 2009
| closed =
| demolished =
| owner =
| operator = Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality
| surface = Ryegrass{{Cite web|url=http://www.fscheetahs.co.za/stadium#stadium-facts|title = Stadium | Toyota Cheetahs}}
| construction_cost =
| architect =
| structural engineer =
| services engineer =
| general_contractor =
| project_manager =
| main_contractors =
| former_names = Vodacom Park
| tenants = Cheetahs
Free State Cheetahs
Bloemfontein Celtic
| seating_capacity = 42,000{{Cite web|url=http://www.fscheetahs.co.za/stadium.aspx?TID=2|title = Stadium | Toyota Cheetahs}}
| dimensions ={{convert|100|x|70|m}}
| scoreboard =yes
|publictransit=Bloemfontein railway station
|suites=100{{Cite web|url=http://www.fscheetahs.co.za/stadium#stadium-facts|title = Stadium | Toyota Cheetahs}}}}
The Free State Stadium ({{langx|af|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.
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.
{{clear}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: left;" width="100%" | |||||
| Date
!Team #1 !Res. !Team #2 !Round !Attendance | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 May 1995 | {{ru|JPN|1870}} | style="text-align:center;"|10–57 | {{ru|WAL}} | rowspan="3" |Group C | style="text-align:center;"|12,000 |
| 31 May 1995 | {{ru|Ireland}} | style="text-align:center;"|50–28 | {{ru|JPN|1870}} | style="text-align:center;" |15,000 | |
| 4 June 19951 | {{ru|JPN|1870}} | style="text-align:center;"|17–145 | {{ru|NZL}} | style="text-align:center;" |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:
{{clear}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left; width:100%;" | ||||||
| Date
!Time (SAST) !Team #1 !Result !Team #2 !Round !Attendance | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 January 1996 | {{fb|ZAM|1964}} | style="text-align:center;"|0–0 | {{fb|ALG}} | rowspan="5" |Group B | style="text-align:center;"|9,000 | |
| 15 January 1996 | {{fb|SLE}} | style="text-align:center;"|2–1 | {{fb|BFA}} | style="text-align:center;" |1,500 | ||
| 18 January 1996 | {{fb|ALG}} | style="text-align:center;"|2–0 | {{fb|SLE}} | style="text-align:center;" |1,500 | ||
| 20 January 1996 | rowspan="2" |{{fb|ZAM|1964}} | style="text-align:center;"|5–1 | {{fb|BFA}} | style="text-align:center;" |2,000 | ||
| 24 January 1996 | style="text-align:center;" |4–0 | {{fb|SLE}} | style="text-align:center;" |200 | |||
| 25 January 1996 | {{fb|GHA}} | style="text-align:center;"|2–0 | {{fb|MOZ}} | Group D | style="text-align:center;"|3,500 | |
| 27 January 1996 | {{fb|ZAM|1964}} | style="text-align:center;"|3–1 | {{fb|EGY}} | Quarter-finals | style="text-align:center;"|8,500 |
= 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup =
The Free State Stadium was one of the host venues for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup.
{{clear}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left; width:100%;" | ||||||
| Date
!Time (SAST) !Team #1 !Result !Team #2 !Round !Attendance | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 June 2009 | 16:00 | {{fb|BRA}} | style="text-align:center;"|4–3 | {{fb|EGY}} | Group B | style="text-align:center;"|27,851 |
| 17 June 2009 | 16:00 | rowspan="3" |{{fb|ESP}} | style="text-align:center;"|1–0 | {{fb|IRQ}} | rowspan="2" |Group A | style="text-align:center;"|30,512 |
| 20 June 2009 | rowspan="2" |20:30 | style="text-align:center;" |2–0 | {{fb|RSA}} | style="text-align:center;" |38,212 | ||
| 24 June 2009 | style="text-align:center;" |0–2 | {{fb|USA}} | Semi-finals | style="text-align:center;"|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{{cite web|url=http://www.fussballtempel.net/caf/listecaf.html |title=fussballtemple |publisher=Fussballtempel.net |access-date=2010-06-17}} 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.sundaytimes.co.za/SpecialReports/2010WorldCup/Article.aspx?id=361806 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214011342/http://www.sundaytimes.co.za/SpecialReports/2010WorldCup/Article.aspx?id=361806 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2019-12-14 |title=Sunday Times |publisher=Sunday Times |access-date=2010-06-17 }} Tenders were advertised in February and March 2007. Upgrade work started in July 2007.{{cite web |url=http://www.bloemfontein.co.za/docs/Free%20State%20stadium%20progress%20report_May08.pdf |title=Official upgrade progress report as at May 2008 |access-date=2010-06-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727102033/http://www.bloemfontein.co.za/docs/Free%20State%20stadium%20progress%20report_May08.pdf |archive-date=2011-07-27 }}
{{clear}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left; width:100%;" | ||||||
| Date
!Time (SAST) !Team #1 !Result !Team #2 !Round !Attendance | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 June 2010 | 16.00 | {{fb|JPN}} | style="text-align:center;"|1–0 | {{Fb|CMR}} | Group E | style="text-align:center;"|30,620 |
| 17 June 2010 | 16.00 | {{fb|GRE}} | style="text-align:center;"|2–1 | {{fb|NGA}} | Group B | style="text-align:center;"|31,593 |
| 20 June 2010 | 13.30 | {{fb|SVK}} | style="text-align:center;"|0–2 | {{fb|PAR|1990}} | Group F | style="text-align:center;"|26,643 |
| 22 June 2010 | 16.00 | {{fb|FRA|1974}} | style="text-align:center;"|1–2 | {{fb|RSA}} | Group A | style="text-align:center;"|39,415 |
| 25 June 2010 | 20.30 | {{fb|SUI}} | style="text-align:center;"|0–0 | {{fb|HON|1949}} | Group H | style="text-align:center;"|28,042 |
| 27 June 2010 | 16.00 | {{fb|GER}} | style="text-align:center;"|4–1 | {{fb|ENG}} | Round of 16 | style="text-align:center;"|40,510 |
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- [http://www.bloemfontein.co.za/ Bloemfontein]: Official municipality website
- [https://cafe.daum.net/stade/Dlwn/25 Photos of Stadiums in South Africa] at [https://cafe.daum.net/stade/ cafe.daum.net/stade]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20100425071944/http://in3sixty.com/cms/manager/share/id/1f5389c2-1b15-4bfd-ccad-2541b83dc50a 360 View]
{{1995 Rugby World Cup Venues}}
{{1996 African Cup of Nations Venues}}
{{2009 FIFA Confederations Cup Venues}}
{{2010 FIFA World Cup stadiums}}
{{United Rugby Championship}}
{{Super Rugby stadiums}}
Category:Soccer venues in South Africa
Category:Rugby union stadiums in South Africa
Category:Buildings and structures in Bloemfontein