Yussus but our stadiums are lekker, N’ca, kiff, TIT hot. I have put together a little guide to them for you to get to know them better, and further more, to know what games are going down at them. Further still, thanks to the incredible http://worldcupstadiums.in3sixty.com/, you can even get a virtual 360’ view of them all like you were soma there! Nothing spared in 2010, least of all here at TheBounce. Ten stadiums in total, lets check ‘em out.
Just days now until showtime!
(click on Stadium titles to see them in 360 degree view)
Soccer City, Johannesburg
Our mother ship – the real deal Starship Enterprise of stadiums and the home of the Opening game and final to name but a few, Soccer City makes sure Africa’s first World Cup is kicked off in the grandest of settings. The capacity of this larger than life African calabash is 94 700, that is bloody massive by international standards but when compared to anything locally, it is damn near incomprehensible. No matter what time of day, or whether you see it in person or in a magazine, Soccer City is simply awe inspiring.
Pretty much the vibe - incredible!
Games to watch at Soccer City
11 June SA vs Mexico 16h00
14 June Netherlands vs Denmark 13h30
17 June Argentina vs South Korea 13h30
20 June Brazil vs Ivory Coast 20h30
23 June Ghana vs Germany 20h30
27 June Round of 16 20h30
2 July Quarter-final
11 July Final
Moses Mabida Stadium, Durban
Another new stadium built for the World Cup, and another belter. The Moses Mabida Stadium in Durban is a thing of beauty and together with the agreeable tropical climate that it resides in, it will certainly be one of the most popular settings for the 2010 World Cup. It has an impressive 70 000 capacity and a fixture list of top quality games to fill it throughout the World Cup.
The shining light of the Durban beach-front.
Games to watch at Moses Mabida Stadium
13 June Germany vs Australia 20h30
16 June Spain vs Switzerland 16h00
19 June Netherlands vs Japan 13h30
22 June Nigeria vs South Korea 20h30
25 June Portugal vs Brazil 16h00
28 June Round of 16 16h00
7 July Semi-final 20h30
Green Point Stadium, Cape Town
Arguably the most breath-taking of the World Cup stadiums, the new 70 000 capacity Green Point stadium in Cape Town will be the subject of many a helicopter live-feed shot this World Cup as it is positioned in the world-famous Cape Town city area, with the impossibly beautiful Table Mountain creating the perfect framing back drop. Wow, that could have been quite possibly the most limp-wrested sentence ever written here on TheBounce. Before I start using words like lilac and adorable, let’s see what games we can look forward to at this scintillating piece of modern design splendour. (get a grip…)
A scene to inspire a million adjectives.
Games to watch at Green Point Stadium
11 June Uruguay vs France 20h30
14 June Italy vs Paraguay 20h30
18 June England vs Algeria 20h30
21 June Portugal vs North Korea 13h30
24 June Cameroon vs Netherlands 20h30
29 June Round of 16
3 July Quarter- final
6 July Semi-final
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Not to be left out of the new stadium action, P.E also now possesses a little bit of special with the sparkling new Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. Just as well too, as the Boet Erasmus stadium is a complete toilet of a structure, made even worse by some dipshit building it east to west so the setting sun becomes a bit of a factor with late afternoon games. This new stadium has a modest (when compared to the above stadiums) capacity of 48 459 and will host no fewer than eight World Cup clashes in 2010.
Something for P.E to finally write home about.
Games to watch at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
12 June South Korea vs Greece 13h30
15 June Ivory Coast vs Portugal 16h00
18 June Germany vs Serbia 13h30
21 June Chile vs Switzerland 16h00
23 June Slovenia vs England 16h00
26 June Round of 16 16h00
2 July Quarter-final 16h00
10 July Third place play-off 20h30
Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
Nelspruit, a special place for tourists on the doorstep of the Kruger National Park, and also the home of the new 46 000 capacity Mbombela Stadium – a stadium which is sure to be a complete white elephant after the tournament, but one which is being used for four games during it. Apart from the wonders of nature in the area, may I suggest a little Ricki Louw and windsurfing at “Stables” after the matches. Ask any local, they will point you in the right direction.
Nelspruits World Cup home.
Games to watch at Mbombela Stadium
16 June Honduras vs Chile 13h30
20 June Italy vs New Zealand 16h00
23 June Australia vs Serbia 20h30
25 June North Korea vs Ivory Coast 16h00
Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane
The capital of the Limpopo province and also a pretty wild part of the country just perfect for road-trips. Bafana just drilled Gautamayonnaise there, and the 46 000 capacity Peter Mokaba Stadium will be hosting another 4 top classes during the World Cup.
Polokwane's stunning Peter Mokaba stadium.
Games to watch at Peter Mokaba Stadium
13 June Algeria vs Slovenia 13h30
17 June France vs Mexico 20h30
22 June Greece vs Argentina 20h30
24 June Paraguay vs New Zealand 16h00
Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg.
Back to the traditional rugby stadiums now and one of the most famous the world over – Ellis Park. The scene of the famous 1995 World Cup final and venue for various other fine Springbok wins, Ellis Park is sadly more used as the home turf of the less illustrious Lions rugby team. So best you get on down there and put some life back into the 70 000 capacity stadium during the World Cup as it hosts seven matches.
Ellis Park - A proper real deal stadium.
Games to watch at Ellis Park
12 June Argentina vs Nigeria 16h00
15 June Brazil vs North Korea 20h30
18 June Slovenia vs USA 16h00
21 June Spain vs Honduras 20h30
24 June Slovakia vs Italy 16h00
28 June Round of 16 20h30
3 July Quarter-final 20h30
Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria.
The home of the mighty Blue Bulls rugby team and a rather pleasant place and area to spend an afternoon. The stadium has seen some minor cosmetic work done and with a 55 000 capacity, will more than handle any action during this World Cup. Plenty of good jols to go to afterwards too all within a free-kick or two of the stadium.
Die Blou Bull makes way for the World Cuppie.
Games to watch at Loftus Versfeld
13 June Serbia vs Ghana 16h00
16 June South Africa vs Uruguay 20h30
19 June Cameroon vs Denmark 20h30
23 June USA vs Algeria 16h00
25 June Chile vs Spain 20h30
29 June Round of 16 16h00
Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
VRYSTAAT!!! will not be heard during the World Cup, but their fantastic 53 000 capacity stadium will be used to host six matches. Any town that is hosting a Bafana match will have a little extra gees, and with Bloem that extra little gees will be found in every possible nook and cranny. What a thought.
Freestate Stadium - eager to add to the Bafana gees.
Games to watch at the Free State Stadium
14 June Japan vs Cameroon 16h00
17 June Greece vs Nigeria 16h00
20 June Slovakia vs Paraguay 13h30
22 June France vs South Africa 16h00
25 June Switzerland vs Honduras 20h30
27 June Round of 16
The Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenberg
Situated close to the pleasure oasis of Sun City, the Royal Bafokeng has one of the most amazing playing surfaces in the world and will host six fast and furious World Cup games. There will be some proper jols all over SA during the World Cup, but I think the small towns are going to offer a little something special as they become over run with World Cup fever.
Fit for a King, and just about everything else - Royal Bafokeng sports palace.
Games to watch at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium
12 June England vs USA 20h30
15 June New Zealand vs Slovakia 13h30
19 June Ghana vs Australia 16h00
22 June Mexico vs Uruguay 16h00
24 June Denmark vs Japan 20h30
26 June Round of 16
So there you have it, ten fantastic stadiums and ten places that will have the attention of the world by the bollocks for a whole month. Oh the joy – with it only days away now, that warm fuzzy feeling is starting to turn into a tornado of butterflies on speed. Let’s go 2010!
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