Ellis Park Stadium

History

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 acre 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. Thus was born Ellis Park which became internationally renowned and synonymous with rugby. 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 the host for 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 suites could be erected.

In 2005 Ellis Park became the first black-owned stadium in South Africa. The Golden Lions Rugby Football Union passed the management of the Ellis Park Precinct to a company with 51% black ownership. Orlando Pirates, Interza Lesego and Ellis Park Stadium (Pty) Ltd make up the new management of the Ellis Park Precinct.

The stadium was witness to an incident during a Premiership football match between Orlando Pirates and Black Leopards on 17 January 2007, when high winds blew several sideline advertising boards onto the pitch, striking a linesman and three players. Play resumed 7 minutes later, but the match was ultimately abandoned 6 minutes before full-time due to sudden torrential rains and lightning. The game's kickoff previously had been delayed 15 minutes by a power failure.

Disaster of 11 April 2001

Main article: Ellis Park Stadium disaster

In 2001 a crowd crush occurred during a soccer game between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs. With 43 people killed, the Ellis Park Stadium disaster is to date the biggest of its kind in South Africa.

Crime

The inner city suburb of Doornfontein has experienced increasing crime, leading to a number of incidents affecting stadium goers, and impacting stadium attendances. As a result, there have been calls for South African rugby to move to another venue in Johannesburg.

Concerts

On 12 January 1985, Ellis Park Stadium was the venue for Concert in the Park, a benefit concert organised by Hilton Rosenthal. 22 artists played the benefit, which raised money for Operation Hunger, a South African non-profit organisation.

Among the touring artists who have performed at the Stadium are:

Whitney Houston's concert was recorded and released as a home video titled: Whitney: The Concert for a New South Africa). A year later also Roxette's concert during the Crash! Boom! Bang! World Tour was recorded and released on VHS home video.

Sporting events

1995 Rugby World Cup

Main article: 1995 Rugby World Cup

In 1995, South Africa hosted the Rugby World Cup, and the final was held at Ellis Park on 24 June in front of 65,000 spectators. South Africa beat New Zealand 15–12 in extra time.

2009 FIFA Confederations Cup

Ellis Park was one of the host venues for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup.

2010 FIFA World Cup

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.

Cricket Records

Test centuries

A total of 13 Test match centuries were scored on the ground.

Test match five-wicket hauls

Eight five-wicket hauls were taken in Test matches on the ground.

Notes

References

References

1. "Ellis Park". FIFA.
2. (4 July 2008). "Ellis Park Stadium renamed to Coca-Cola Park". Ellis Park Stadium (Pty) Limited.
3. "Coca-Cola Park : Standard Bank Arena".
4. [https://web.archive.org/web/20130601222034/http://www.ellispark.co.za/JohanesburgStadium.aspx Johannesburg Stadium]
5. (17 June 2011). "Ellis Park: Test Matches". ESPN Cricinfo.
6. "The History of Ellis Park". Ellis Park Stadium (Pty) Limited.
7. (18 January 2007). "Strong wind causes chaos at Ellis Park". The Mercury.
8. (29 August 2002). "Final Report". Government of South Africa.
9. Tsotsi, Athenkosi. (2023-07-27). "Boks Test at Ellis Park: No place to hide for criminals".
10. Tshwaku, Khanyiso. "Has the time come for Springbok rugby to move on from Ellis Park?".
11. Mojapelo, Max. (2008). "Beyond Memory: Recording the History, Moments and Memories of South African Music". African Minds.
12. Durbach, Dave. (30 July 2018). "A Peaceful Riot".
13. [http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=1;filter=advanced;ground=428;orderby=start;qualmin1=100;qualval1=batted_score;size=200;template=results;type=batting;view=innings Statistics - Statsguru - Test Matches - Batting Records], [[CricInfo]]. Retrieved 2020-03-07.
14. [https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/17495/game/62696/south-africa-vs-england-2nd-test-england-marylebone-cricket-club-tour-of-south-africa-1948-49 2nd Test, England (Marylebone Cricket Club) tour of South Africa at Johannesburg, Dec 27-30 1948], [[CricInfo]]. Retrieved 2020-03-07.
15. [https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/17495/game/62698/south-africa-vs-england-4th-test-england-marylebone-cricket-club-tour-of-south-africa-1948-49 4th Test, England (Marylebone Cricket Club) tour of South Africa at Johannesburg, Feb 12-16 1949], [[CricInfo]]. Retrieved 2020-03-07.
16. [https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/17484/game/62704/south-africa-vs-australia-1st-test-australia-tour-of-south-africa-1949-50 1st Test, Australia tour of South Africa at Johannesburg, Dec 24-28 1949], [[CricInfo]]. Retrieved 2020-03-07.
17. [https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/17484/game/62707/south-africa-vs-australia-4th-test-australia-tour-of-south-africa-1949-50 4th Test, Australia tour of South Africa at Johannesburg, Feb 10-14 1950], [[CricInfo]]. Retrieved 2020-03-07.
18. [https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/17445/game/62764/south-africa-vs-new-zealand-2nd-test-new-zealand-tour-of-south-africa-1953-54 2nd Test, New Zealand tour of South Africa at Johannesburg, Dec 24-29 1953], [[CricInfo]]. Retrieved 2020-03-07.
19. [https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/17445/game/62766/south-africa-vs-new-zealand-4th-test-new-zealand-tour-of-south-africa-1953-54 4th Test, New Zealand tour of South Africa at Johannesburg, Jan 29 - Feb 2 1954], [[CricInfo]]. Retrieved 2020-03-07.