The Kings Park Stadium (known as the Hollywoodbets Kings Park for sponsorship reasons since 2022), is a

stadium A stadium ( : stadiums or stadia) is a place or venue for (mostly) outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a tiered structure designed to allow spectators to stand o ...

located in the Kings Park Sporting Precinct in

Durban Durban ( ) ( zu, eThekwini, from meaning 'the port' also called zu, eZibubulungwini for the mountain range that terminates in the area), nicknamed ''Durbs'',Ishani ChettyCity nicknames in SA and across the worldArticle on ''news24.com'' from ...

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring coun ...

. The stadium was originally built with a capacity of 12,000 and opened in 1958, extensively

renovated Renovation (also called remodeling) is the process of improving broken, damaged, or outdated structures. Renovations are typically done on either commercial or residential buildings. Additionally, renovation can refer to making something new, ...

in the 1980s and then again in time for the 1995 Rugby World Cup. It currently has a capacity of 54,000 and is the home ground of the . The stadium has also been used by Durban-based Premier Soccer League

football (soccer) Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 players who primarily use their feet to propel the ball around a rectangular field called a pitch. The objective of the game is ...

clubs, as well as for large football finals. It was previously also known as the ABSA Stadium (between 2000 and 2010), Mr Price Kings Park Stadium (in 2011 and 2012), Growthpoint Kings Park (between 2013 and early 2017), and Jonsson Kings Park (between 2018-2021) due to sponsorship deals.

1995 Rugby World Cup

The stadium was used as one of the venues for the 1995 Rugby World Cup held in

. The stadium hosted three pool games in Pool B. The stadium also hosted one quarter final with

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

defeating

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel, the Irish Sea, and St George's Channel. Ireland is the s ...

36–12. A very wet semi final was played here on 17 June 1995 between

and

1996 African Cup of Nations

The stadium was one of four venues for the

1996 African Cup of Nations The 1996 African Cup of Nations was the 20th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, the football championship of Africa ( CAF). It was hosted by South Africa, who replaced original hosts Kenya. The field expanded for the first time to 16 teams, s ...

. It hosted 3 group matches, a quarter final and semi final.

Other events

Future

With the construction of the new Moses Mabhida Stadium for the

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less than 200m away, the local government had hoped that the Sharks would have relocated. However, this is unlikely as they have a 50-year lease on Kings Park which runs to 2056.

References

{{Authority control Sports venues in Durban Soccer venues in South Africa Multi-purpose stadiums in South Africa Rugby union stadiums in South Africa Rugby World Cup stadiums 1891 establishments in the Colony of Natal World Rugby Sevens Series venues