Loftus Versfeld
Loftus Versfeld during a Super Rugby encounter between the Vodacom Bulls and the Sharks.
Full nameLoftus Versfeld Stadium
Former namesMinolta Loftus, Securicor Loftus
Location440 Kirkness Street, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
Coordinates25°45′12″S 28°13′22″E / 25.75333°S 28.22278°E / -25.75333; 28.22278
OwnerBlue Bulls Rugby Union Mamelodi Sundowns
Capacity51,762
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Built1906–1923
Opened1923 (1923)
Renovated1977
Expanded2008
Tenants
Blue Bulls (Currie Cup)
Bulls (United Rugby Championship)
Mamelodi Sundowns F.C. (PSL)
Website
bullsrugby.co.za/stadium/stadium-history/

Loftus Versfeld Stadium is a rugby union and Association football stadium situated in the suburb of Arcadia, city of Pretoria in the Gauteng province of South Africa. The stadium has a capacity of 51,762 for rugby union and is also used for football matches.

The stadium is the home ground of the Bulls franchise of the United Rugby Championship,Blue Bulls union in South Africa's Currie Cup and African Football league championsns Mamelodi Sundowns It also hosted the 2009 Super 14 Final which the Bulls won 61–17 against the Waikato Chiefs, and the 2009 Currie Cup final, which the Bulls won 36–24 against the Free State Cheetahs.

Also, the South Africa national rugby union team has played several test matches at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium. They played New Zealand in 1970, 1996, 1999, 2003 and 2006, Australia in 1967, 1997, 2001, 2005, 2010, 2012 and 2023, England in 1994, 2000 and 2007, and Ireland in 1998.

In June 2010, the stadium hosted opening round games and one game of the round of 16 of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

The stadium is located at an altitude of 1,350m above sea level.[1]

History

The stadium was named after Robert Loftus Owen Versfeld, the founder of organised sports in Pretoria. Through the years the stadium has undergone various name changes as sponsors came and went, though locals have always referred to the stadium as Loftus. From 11 June 1998 to 4 February 2003 the stadium was officially named Minolta Loftus after Minolta became the stadium's name sponsor. Sponsorship was taken over by security giant Securicor, who announced the name Securicor Loftus on 5 February 2003. On 1 September 2005 the renaming process went full circle when cellular provider Vodacom, taking over sponsorship from Securicor, renamed the stadium back to the original Loftus Versfeld.

A South African fan plays his vuvuzela, June 2010

The site of the stadium was first used for sports in 1906, and the field was simply called the Eastern Sports Ground. The first concrete structure was erected there by the City Council in 1923. The original structure could only accommodate 2000 spectators and did not have proper sports facilities.

In 1928, mostly because of the All Blacks tour to South Africa that year, the Pretoria sub-union made a large profit which they used to erect changing rooms and toilets.

When Mr Loftus Versfeld died suddenly in May 1932 the Pretoria sub-union renamed the Eastern Sports Ground after him as a tribute. The stadium has been known as Loftus Versfeld Stadium ever since. It has been upgraded on several occasions, most recently in 1984, when the Northern Pavilion received an upgrade.

Tournament matches

1995 Rugby World Cup

Loftus hosted some matches during the 1995 Rugby World Cup.

Date Team 1 Result Team 2 Round Attendance
26 May 1995 France38–10 TongaPool D25,000
30 May 1995 Scotland41–5 TongaPool D21,000
3 June 1995 France22–19 ScotlandPool D40,000
11 June 1995 New Zealand48–30 ScotlandQuarter-finals20,000
22 June 1995 France19–9 EnglandThird-place play-off45,000

2009 FIFA Confederations Cup

Loftus Versfeld was one of the venues for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup.[2] It hosted the Group B matches: USA vs. Italy, USA vs. Brazil and Brazil vs. Italy.[3]

Date Time (SAST) Team 1 Result Team 2 Round Attendance
15 June 200920:30 United States1–3 ItalyGroup B34,341
18 June 200916:000–3 Brazil39,617
21 June 200920:30 Italy0–341,195

2010 FIFA World Cup

Minimal upgrading was undertaken in order for Loftus Versfeld to qualify as a venue for first and second round matches for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.[4][5] The floodlights, sound system, scoreboards and stadium roof were improved, as roads and parking facilities around it.[4][6] While expected to be finished in August 2008,[4] renovation was completed in January 2009.[7]

Date Time (SAST) Team 1 Result Team 2 Round Attendance
13 June 201016:00 Serbia0–1 GhanaGroup D38,833
16 June 201020:30 South Africa0–3 UruguayGroup A42,658
19 June 201020:30 Cameroon1–2 DenmarkGroup E38,074
23 June 201016:00 United States1–0 AlgeriaGroup C35,827
25 June 201020:30 Chile1–2 SpainGroup H41,958
29 June 201016:00 Paraguay0–0 (a.e.t.)
(5–3 pen.)		 JapanRound of 1636,742

Concerts

The stadium has hosted many musical events including concerts by UB40 and Robbie Williams' Close Encounters Tour on 17 April 2006 with an attendance of over 60,000. Canadian superstar Celine Dion also performed as part of her Taking Chances Tour a two-night stand at the stadium on 16 and 17 February 2008 with a total attendance of about 80,000.

For the 1999 staging of Verdi's Aida, a cast of 100's (locally selected extras) formed the backing for international musicians and singers.

Boxing

On 20 October 1979, South African heavyweight boxer Gerrie Coetzee challenged the unbeaten American heavyweight John Tate for the vacant WBA World Heavyweight title in front of a crowd of 80,000 people. Despite massive support within the stadium Coetzee lost on points to the American. Expensive ring side seats for spectators were laid out flat on the rugby pitch, while fans seated on the stadium's (backward) steel pavilions had to do with binoculars to follow the action.

Cricket

Between 1956 and 1959 six first-class cricket matches were played at the stadium.[8]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Q&A: What can northern hemisphere sides expect when they travel to South Africa?".
  2. ↑ "FIFA Confederations Cup 2009 – Tshwane/Pretoria". FIFA. Archived from the original on 1 August 2008. Retrieved 18 June 2009.
  3. ↑ "FIFA Confederations Cup 2009 – Matches". FIFA. Archived from the original on 4 April 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
  4. 1 2 3 Sylvester Haskins (20 June 2008). "Five new stadiums on track for 2010". Engineering News. Creamer Media. Retrieved 21 June 2008.
  5. ↑ "How host cities are shaping up: Pretoria". Times LIVE. AVUSA. 23 November 2007. Archived from the original on 25 November 2008. Retrieved 21 June 2008.
  6. ↑ Lebogang Seale (12 February 2008). "2010 soccer stadiums under Fifa spotlight". IOL Sport. Independent Newspapers. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  7. ↑ "Pretoria Stadium not yet ready". BBC Sport. 5 February 2009. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  8. ↑ "First-class matches played on Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria". CricketArchive. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
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