Moses Mabhida Stadium

Moses Mabhida Stadium ^[1] is intended to be a world-class multi-use stadium in Durban, South Africa.

Artist impression of the Moses Mabhida Stadium , Durban

If completed 2009, it will play host to the Confederations Cup. It would be one of the host stadiums for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The stadium has a planned capacity of between 70,000 and 80,000 people. Moses Mabhida Stadium is adjacent to the ABSA Stadium in the Kings Park sporting precinct. As part of the city's plans for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Kings Park Soccer Stadium was demolished in late 2006 to make way for the new Stadium, with an adjoining indoor arena, sporting museum, sports institute and a new transmodal transport station.

Stadium specifics

The stadium is supposed to be constructed upon the existing grounds of the Kings Park Soccer Stadium, in the Durban sports precinct. Due to political and economic reasons, the stadium may never be completed.

Dimensions

Stadium: 320m x 280m x 45m

Arches: 100m

Construction Progress

Demolition of the existing Kings Park Soccer Stadium is now complete and was expected to cost R2,5-Million (ZAR).

Date	Phase	Description	Status
2006-07-08	1	Destruction of existing stadium, southern pavilion.	Completed
2006-07-12	2	Destruction of existing stadium, northern pavilion.	Completed
2006-07-25	3	Destruction of existing stadium, main pavilion.	Completed
2007-04-01	4	Construction begins.	Pending

2010 FIFA World Cup

The stadium is one of the venues for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and will probably be host to a semi-final match. Some wondered whether Durban actually needed a new stadium and were critical of the new venue, claiming that it would become a "white elephant" after the FIFA World Cup. For example the shack dwellers' movement Abahlali baseMjondolo has strenuously opposed the building of this stadium. However, the stadium may be used to bid for future Rugby World Cups and, since it will have an athletic track,future athletic or multi-sport events.

Naming Controversy

On Feb 1 2006, KwaZulu-Natal Premier S'bu Ndebele was quoted as saying that since the stadium will only be finished in 2009, it was not yet important to decide upon a name. He said: "For now let us refer to it as a new 2010 stadium. The main issue is that KwaZulu-Natal is building a new stadium. The name can be anything. It can be Christmas Tree". eThekwini mayor Obed Mlaba suggested that the stadium may be named Moses Mabhida Stadium.^[2]

The Stadium was originally to be named after King Senzangakhona, the father of the Great King Shaka Zulu. The name has since been changed to Moses Mabidha who is largely unknown to the Kwazulu Natal Region. This name change has come amongst speculation by the Durban public that the IFP's presence and Kwazulu Natal Historic Figures are being erased from History through various name changes to make way for ANC political and revolutionary figures. Some of the bizarre name changes include a road named after Fidel Castro and Che Guevara. There have been mass protests in the streets because of the Durban Street Name Controversy and have caused unrest and ill feeling in the province against the National government of the ANC.