Kings Park Stadium


The Kings Park Stadium, is a stadium located in the Kings Park Sporting Precinct in Durban, South Africa.
The stadium was originally built with a capacity of 12,000 and opened in 1958, extensively renovated in the 1980s and then again in time for the 1995 Rugby World Cup. It currently has a capacity of 52,000 and is the home ground of the. The stadium has also been used by Durban-based Premier Soccer League football clubs, as well as for large football finals.
It was previously also known as the ABSA Stadium, Mr Price Kings Park Stadium and Growthpoint Kings Park due to sponsorship deals.

1995 Rugby World Cup

The stadium was used as one of the venues for the 1995 Rugby World Cup held in South Africa. The stadium hosted three pool games in Pool B. The stadium also hosted one quarter final with France defeating Ireland 36–12. A very wet semi final was played here on 17 June 1995 between South Africa and France, with the Springboks winning 19–15 on their way to the nation's first ever Rugby World Cup trophy.
DateTeam #1Res.Team #2RoundAttendance
1995-05-2718–24Pool B30,000
1995-05-3127–20Pool B21,000
1995-06-0444–22Pool B20,000
1995-06-1036–12Quarter Final18,000
1995-06-1719–15Semi Final50,000

1996 African Cup of Nations

The stadium was one of four venues for the 1996 African Cup of Nations. It hosted 3 group matches, a quarter final and semi final.
DateTeam #1Res.Team #2RoundAttendance
1996-01-161–2Group C5,000
1996-01-192–0Group c6,000
1996-01-243–3Group A6,000
1996-01-281-1 Quarterfinal4,000
1996-01-312–4Semifinal5,000

Other events

ArtistTourDate
Whitney HoustonThe Bodyguard World Tour8 November 1994
Bon JoviThese Days Tour3 December 1995
Tina TurnerWildest Dreams Tour18 April 1996
Gloria EstefanEvolution World Tour20 March 1997
Michael JacksonHIStory World Tour15 October 1997
Janet JacksonThe Velvet Rope Tour19 November 1998
MetallicaEscape from the Studio '0621 March 2006
Robbie WilliamsClose Encounters Tour10 April 2006
Celine DionTaking Chances World Tour20 February 2008
Rod StewartSouth Africa Tour4 December 2008

Future

With the construction of the new Moses Mabhida Stadium for the 2010 FIFA World Cup less than 200m away, the local government had hoped that the Sharks would have relocated. However, this is unlikely as they have a 50-year lease on Kings Park which runs to 2056.