Moses Mabhida Stadium facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Moses Mabhida Stadium

Stone Arch To Freedom
The aerial view of the stadium
Full name	Moses Mncane Mbheki Mabhida Stadium
Location	44 Walter Gilbert Road, Stamford Hill, Durban, South Africa
Coordinates	29°49′44″S 31°01′49″E / 29.829°S 31.0303°E / -29.829; 31.0303
Owner	eThekwini (Durban Metropolitan UniCity)
Capacity	55,500
Field size	Stadium: 320 m × 280 m × 45 m (1,050 ft × 919 ft × 148 ft), Arches: 100 m (330 ft)
Surface	Grass
Construction
Broke ground	2006; 19 years ago (2006)
Built	2007–2009
Opened	28 November 2009; 15 years ago (2009-11-28)
Renovated	2025-present
Construction cost	R 3.4 billion (US$450 million)
Architect	Gerkan, Marg and Partners Theunissen Jankowitz Durban, Ambro-Afrique Consultants, Osmond Lange Architects & Planners, NSM Designs
Builder	Group5 WBHO A. Yudishtra and Philasande Project Managers
Tenants
AmaZulu F.C. (2009–present) Sharks (some matches) South Africa national soccer team

The Moses Mabhida Stadium is a huge soccer stadium in Durban, South Africa. It is named after Moses Mabhida, a famous South African leader. This stadium is used for many different activities. You can watch soccer, rugby, and cricket here. It also hosts concerts, motorsports, and even bungee jumping!

The stadium was one of the places where games were played for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. It can hold 55,500 people, but it can be made bigger for special events. The stadium is right next to the Kings Park Stadium and a special area for sports. It also has a sports school and a place where different types of transport connect.

Building the Stadium

The Moses Mabhida Stadium was built where the old Kings Park Soccer Stadium used to be. It is in the sports area of Stamford Hill in Durban. For the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the stadium could hold 62,760 fans. Its design allows the seating to change. It can be 55,500 seats for regular games or up to 75,000 for big events like the Commonwealth Games.

The stadium has two main levels of seats. A third level was added just for the World Cup. There are also 120 special rooms for guests, with 7,500 seats.

Stadium Design and Features

The stadium itself is about 320 meters long, 280 meters wide, and 45 meters high.

The Giant Arch

View of the arch from the bottom of the swing.

A huge arch, 350 meters long and 105 meters high, holds up the stadium's roof. The very top of the arch is 106 meters above the field. This arch is a symbol of South Africa's people coming together. It is made of a steel box and weighs 2,600 tonnes.

You can ride a special cable car, called a funicular, to a viewing platform at the top of the arch. From there, you get amazing views of the city and the ocean. If you are feeling brave, you can also climb 550 steps to the top!

In 2010, the world's largest swing opened at the stadium. People can jump from a high platform and swing in a 220-meter arc over the field.

Moses Mabhida Stadium view

The Roof

The stadium's roof is made of a special material that glows when the stadium lights are on. It covers 88% of the seats. This roof is held up by 95mm thick steel cables connected to the arch.

The Bowl Shape

The stadium's main structure is supported by 1,750 columns and 216 strong beams. Around the field, there are 900 meters of retaining walls, 8 meters high. Over 1,780 concrete panels create the bowl shape where people sit. The stadium has more than 80,000 square meters of floor space inside.

The Outside Look

More than 100 columns stand around the stadium. The tallest of these columns is 46 meters high. The outside of the stadium is covered with 15,000 square meters of special panels. There are also 550 aluminum fins between the main columns.

How the Stadium Was Built

The construction of the Moses Mabhida Stadium happened in several steps:

The stadium was officially finished on November 24, 2009. The first soccer match played there was on November 29, 2009. Maritzburg United won against Amazulu with a score of 1–0.

Exciting Events at the Stadium

Stadium at sunset

The Moses Mabhida Stadium has hosted many exciting events. In December 2015, the famous gospel music group Joyous Celebration recorded their outdoor concert there.

2010 FIFA World Cup Matches

The stadium was a key venue for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. It hosted five group games, one knockout game, and a semi-final match. During the World Cup, it was called "Durban Stadium."

Date	Time (UTC+2)	Team 1	Result	Team 2	Round	Attendance
13 June 2010	20:30	Germany	4–0	Australia	Group D	62,660
16 June 2010	16:00	Spain	0–1	Switzerland	Group H	62,453
19 June 2010	13:30	Netherlands	1–0	Japan	Group E	62,010
22 June 2010	20:30	Nigeria	2–2	South Korea	Group B	61,874
25 June 2010	16:00	Portugal	0–0	Brazil	Group G	62,712
28 June 2010	16:00	Netherlands	2–1	Slovakia	Round of 16	61,962
7 July 2010	20:30	Germany	0–1	Spain	Semi-finals	60,960

2013 African Cup of Nations

The Moses Mabhida Stadium also hosted games for the 2013 African Cup of Nations. It held four group games, one quarter-final, and a semi-final.

Date	Team 1	Result	Team 2	Round	Attendance
23 January 2013	South Africa	2–0	Angola	Group A	50,000
	Cape Verde	1–1	Morocco		25,000
27 January 2013	Morocco	2–2	South Africa		45,000
28 January 2013	DR Congo	1–1	Mali	Group B	8,000
2 February 2013	South Africa	1–1 (a.e.t) (1–3 pen.)		Quarter-final	45,000
6 February 2013	Mali	1–4	Nigeria	Semi-final	54,000

Moses Mabhida Stadium during 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

Soccer Matches

The stadium is the home ground for the Premiership team AmaZulu. It has hosted many important cup finals, with 19 finals taking place there since 2010.

Cricket Matches

Moses Mabhida Stadium

Ground information
Location	Durban, South Africa
International information
Only T20I	9 January 2011:  South Africa v  India
As of 27 December 2016 Source: Cricinfo

The Moses Mabhida Stadium hosted one T20I cricket match.

Team (A)	Team (B)	Winner	Margin	Year	Attendance
South Africa	India	India	By 21 runs	2011	55,500

This match was between South Africa and India on January 9, 2011. India won the game by 21 runs. This match had the largest crowd ever for a cricket game in Africa, with 55,500 people attending.

Royal Events

On October 29, 2022, the coronation of the new King Misuzulu took place at Moses Mabhida Stadium. This was a very important event, as it was the first royal coronation in South Africa since the end of Apartheid.

Concerts and Other Events

The stadium is a popular spot for big concerts and festivals. Many famous artists have performed here.

Future Plans for the Stadium

The Moses Mabhida Stadium is getting a big upgrade! Plans were revealed by eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Cyril Xaba. These upgrades are planned to make the stadium even more fun and useful.

The plans include a new Sky Car with a cabin that is easier to access. It will also be able to handle strong winds better. The viewing platform will be larger and will have a cool glass "Air Walk." There will also be a new Big Swing, a bungee jump facing the ocean, and a zip line that ends at People’s Park. You will also be able to walk along the Compression Ring for dramatic views. These changes are meant to attract more visitors and make the stadium safer and stronger. Construction is planned to start soon.

See also

In Spanish: Estadio Moses Mabhida para niños