FNB Stadium

Infobox Stadium
stadium_name = FNB Stadium
nick_name = Soccer City


location = Johannesburg, South Africa
coordinates = coord|-26.23475|27.98265
broke_ground = 1986 [cite web |url=https://www.fnb.co.za/aboutus/sponsorship/fifa.html |title=2010 FIFA World Cup™ - the beautiful game |accessdate=2008-06-30 |author= |last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |format= |work= |publisher=First National Bank (South Africa) |pages= |language= |doi= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]
opened = 1989 [cite web |url=http://www.joburgnews.co.za/2007/jan/jan23_soccerhistory.stm |title=Soccer goes back 120 years in Joburg |accessdate=2008-06-30 |author=Lucille Davie |last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2007-01-23 |format= |work= |publisher=City of Johannesburg |pages= |language= |doi= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]
renovated = 2009
expanded =
closed =
demolished =
owner = The Stadia and Soccer Development Trust [cite web |url=http://www.safagoal.net/index.php?page=soccercity |title=Soccer City |accessdate=2008-06-30 |author= |last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |format= |work= |publisher=South African Football Association |pages= |language= |doi= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]
operator = South African Football Association
surface = Grass
Constructor =
construction_cost =
architect = Schlaich Bergermann & Partner
former_names =
nicknames = Soccer City
tenants = South Africa national football team
seating_capacity = 94, 700 (football)cite web |url=http://www.safagoal.net/index.php?page=stadia |title=Stadia |accessdate=2008-06-30 |author= |last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |format= |work= |publisher=South African Football Association |pages= |language= |doi= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]
dimensions =

First National Bank Stadium (FNB Stadium or Soccer City) is a stadium located in Johannesburg, South Africa. It is located next to the South African Football Association headquarters ("SAFA House") where both the FIFA offices and the Local Organising Committee for the 2010 FIFA World Cup is housed. cite web |url=http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/destination/stadiums/stadium=5007759/index.html |title=Soccer City |accessdate=2008-06-30 |author= |last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |format= |work= |publisher=FIFA |pages= |language= |doi= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]

A football-specific stadium, the FNB Stadium currently seats 78,000 people in plastic bucket seats. The stadium has the third largest capacity in Africa. Most of the largest football events in South Africa are played at the FNB and the venue is better suited to these events than nearby Ellis Park, where the final for the Rugby World Cup in 1995 was held. Soweto and the National Exhibition Centre in Nasrec are nearby.

= 2010 World Cup =

The stadium will hold the opening match, four more first-round matches, one second-round match one quarter-final and the final.

The Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg is to undergo a major upgrade for the 2010 tournament, with a new design inspired by traditional African pottery.The upper tier will be extended around the stadium to increase the capacity to 94,700 with an extra 99 Executive suites, an encircling roof will be constructed, new changing room facilities will be developed and new floodlights will be installed. The R1.5 billion tender to upgrade the stadium was won by Grinaker-LTA. [cite web |url=http://www.southafrica.info/2010/fnbstadium-180107.htm |title=2010 lead stadium work begins |accessdate=2008-06-30 |author= |last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2007-01-18 |format= |work= |publisher=SAinfo |pages= |language= |doi= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] Soccer City is scheduled for completion in 2009. On January 19, 2007, Grinaker-LTA issued a press statement that mentioned the beginning of the constructions within two weeks.

References

See also

* 2010 FIFA World Cup