Durban 2010 Stadium Opens Doors

The new stadium in the city of Durban built for the 2010 World Cup has staged its first match as Amazulu played Maritzburg United in the South African Premier League.

The new 70,000-seater Moses Mabhida stadium had its capacity limited to 22,000 for the game, with just the lower tier open.

Even though tickets had sold out, steady rain kept the spectators away with only 15,000 turning out to watch.

Durban’s is the second of the country’s six new stadia to have opened after the Port Elizabeth venue opened in June.

The Moses Mabhida stadium is named after a former leader of the South African Communist Party, and will host seven matches during the World Cup.

The stadium’s outstanding feature is a cable car which ascends to a viewing platform at the top of a 350m arch.

Visitors are able to travel to the top of the arch above the playing surface and have panoramic views of the nearby shoreline and city.

The other four stadia in Polokwane, Nelspruit, Cape Town and Soccer City in Johannesburg are due to be opened before February.

The 2010 World Cup tournament will be played from 11th June to 11th July next summer.