For locals and tourists alike, these three stadiums are well worth a visit even if no teams are playing. These sporting spots have a place in the history of the nation and the culture. Whether you are a Joburg resident, or visiting the city from far away, check out these three historic stadiums.
Emirates Airline Park
We all know the real name in South Africa, this is Ellis Park Stadium. It is by far the most legendary and prestigious sports stadium in the nation, and it hosts much more than sporting events. This stadium is a regular stop for visiting music stars and touring bands and is home to one of South Africa’s favourite and most successful sports: rugby.
This stadium was the stage for one of the most legendary sporting events in the history of the world, as well as South Africa. It is here that the Springboks won the 1995 Rugby World Cup Final, and Nelson Mandela united the nation through sport. It is home to The Lions Rugby Union team, and you can still catch games here when the season is in play. Keep up to date with the latest rugby news before you visit, and maybe you can catch a game.
The FNB Stadium
You cannot talk about sports and stadiums in Johannesburg without talking about the FNB stadium. Built in Nasrec, on the site of Nelson Mandela’s first speech after being released from prison, Soccer City was a popular stadium with the world’s football fans during the 2010 World Cup and remains a popular tourist destination.
The First National Bank Stadium is also the host to one of the biggest games in South African football, the Soweto Derby. As the home of the Kaiser Chiefs, the stadium hosts football games throughout the regular season. It has been the pitch for many exhibition matches in the run-up to the European football season with visiting teams like Barcelona, who played there in 2018 and drew one of the biggest attendances recorded there outside of the World Cup. The stadium is worth visiting for the sight and atmosphere alone, but if you can get there on a match day, you are in for a treat.
Orlando Stadium
Situated in the heart of the Soweto township, this stadium is a historic landmark as well as a sporting one. It was to this stadium that tens of thousands of young South Africans marched on the 16th of June of 1976 to protest the Apartheid regime in the Soweto Uprising. This is the spot where the tide turned, and the rights of non-white South Africans and the oppression of the South African government became a global issue.
Today, it is the home of the Orlando Pirates and with them another leg of the Soweto Derby. The township culture that surrounds the stadium is another popular place to visit for people from across the world as well as across South Africa and Johannesburg.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a fun day out, this list has three for you to choose from. Each provides an opportunity to catch a game or a concert or appreciate a piece of the local history and how these stadiums have helped shape the nation.
