Ellis Park Stadium

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Lore & Background

In 1889, the Transvaal Rugby Football Union (now the Golden Lions Rugby Union) was formed and established a domain. The first games were played at the Wanderers Club's stadium whose grounds were situated where Johannesburg Park Station is today. Rows between the different rugby clubs as well as the Wanderers Club's claim of the field for the use of cricket games, forced the Transvaal Rugby Football Union to look for an alternative. An area with a quarry and garbage dumps in Doornfontein was identified in 1927 as the possible alternative. The Transvaal Rugby Football Union negotiated with the Johannesburg City Council's J. D. Ellis (after whom Ellis Park was named) for the availability of these grounds and 13 acres was made available. On 10 October 1927 the final rental agreement was signed. A quote of £600 was accepted for the grass and with a loan from the city council to the amount of £5,000, the building of the new stadium could commence. The stadium was built in eight months and in June 1928 the first test was played against the All Blacks. Crowds of between 38,000 and a record crowd of 95,000 against the British and Irish Lions (in 1955) attended the matches. Ellis Park played host to cricket matches after an agreement was reached between Transvaal Rugby Football Union and The Transvaal Cricket Union. From 1947 when the cricket pitch was laid until 1956, Ellis Park was host to various cricket matches with the final games played in the 1953/54 series against New Zealand. Cricket then moved to its new venue where the current Wanderers still is today. On 28 April 1969 the Transvaal Rugby Football Union formed a stadium committee to investigate the possibilities of a new stadium since the one in use did not meet all the modern requirements. Fifteen years later, after the game between Transvaal and the World Team on 31 March 1979, the old Ellis Park was demolished. Games were played at the Wanderers while the stadium was being rebuilt. A new Transvaal Rugby Football Union management was elected in 1984 with Louis Luyt as chairman and Joe Poolman as his deputy. The decision was taken to place Ellis Park Stadium under the management of a trust. In 1987 after the Ellis Park Stadium was listed on the stock exchange and due to sound financial management by Luyt, Ellis Park could announce that the debt to the amount of R53 million was fully paid and a further 86 s

In Their Own Story

The air inside Ellis Park is thick with humidity and anticipation as the sun begins to dip behind the Johannesburg skyline. The stands are a sea of green and gold, a living tapestry waving in unison. A low rumble starts from the lower tiers, building into a deafening crescendo that vibrates through the soles of the boots on the pitch.

Reader's Guide

Ellis Park is home to the Lions (Cats until September 2006), United Rugby Championship, and the Golden Lions, Currie Cup domestic rugby competition. Cricket matches were held at the stadium in the past. Ellis Park hosted six Test matches between 1948 and 1954, but it has not been used for first-class cricket since New Wanderers Stadium opened in 1956 and is now only used for rugby and football. The stadium was originally named after J. D. Ellis. A five-year ZAR 450 million (US$58 million/£30 million) naming rights deal was signed in 2008 with The Coca-Cola Company, resulting in the stadium being named Coca-Cola Park between 2008 and 2012. The stadium was then known as Emirates Airline Park from 2015 until June 2025 after Emirates bought the naming rights. In July 2026, 10bet acquired the naming rights for five years, renaming the stadium to 10bet Ellis Park. Ellis Park hosted five group games, one second-round game and one quarter-final of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, for which its capacity was increased by 5,000 seats on the northern side only, to 62,000. Areas like the Presidential suite also received a facelift. There was also a hospitality room and new changing rooms. The total cost of renovations was R500 million and were completed in June 2008, two years before the World Cup.

Did You Know?

• Ellis Park hosted six Test cricket matches between 1948 and 1954.
• The stadium was upgraded in 1982 to accommodate almost 60,000 people.
• The only time rugby was not played at Ellis Park was during 1980 and 1981, when the stadium was under construction during the upgrade.
• A crowd crush during a football game between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs on 11 April 2001 killed 43 people, the biggest such disaster in South Africa.

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