Loftus Versfeld Stadium
| File:Loftus Versfeld Game Night.JPG | |
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| Full name | Loftus Versfeld Stadium |
|---|---|
| Former names | Minolta Loftus, Securicor Loftus |
| Location | 440 Kirkness Street, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa |
| Coordinates | Lua error in Module:Coordinates at line 489: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). |
| Public transit | Hatfield (Gautrain station) |
| Owner | Blue Bulls Rugby Union |
| Capacity | 51,762 |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1905 |
| Built | 1906–1923 |
| Opened | 1923 |
| Renovated | 1977 |
| Expanded | 2008 |
| Tenants | |
| Blue Bulls (Currie Cup) Bulls (United Rugby Championship) Mamelodi Sundowns F.C. (Premiership) South Africa national rugby union team (selected matches) | |
| Website | |
| bullsrugby | |
Loftus Versfeld Stadium is a rugby stadium situated in the suburb of Arcadia, city of Pretoria in the Gauteng province of South Africa, owned by the Blue Bulls Rugby Union.[1] The stadium can accommodate 51,762 spectators.
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 champions Mamelodi Sundowns. It also hosted the 2009 Super 14 Final which the Bulls won 61–17 against the Waikato Chiefs, the 2009 Currie Cup final, which the Bulls won 36–24 against the Free State Cheetahs, and the 2024 United Rugby Championship final, which the Bulls lost 16–21 to the Glasgow Warriors.
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 and 2024.
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.[2]
History
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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.
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, including in 1984, when the Northern Pavilion received an upgrade.
Pitch quality
[edit | edit source]In January 2025, the state of the pitch was criticised after for the top-of-the-table Premiership clash between Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates. The pitch had been heavily used for rugby, as well as for other events, prior to the game.[3]
Tournament matches
[edit | edit source]1995 Rugby World Cup
[edit | edit source]Loftus hosted some matches during the 1995 Rugby World Cup.
| Date | Team 1 | Result | Team 2 | Round | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 May 1995 | File:Flag of France.svg France | 38–10 | File:Flag of Tonga.svg Tonga | Pool D | 25,000 |
| 30 May 1995 | File:Flag of Scotland.svg Scotland | 41–5 | File:Flag of Tonga.svg Tonga | Pool D | 21,000 |
| 3 June 1995 | File:Flag of France.svg France | 22–19 | File:Flag of Scotland.svg Scotland | Pool D | 40,000 |
| 11 June 1995 | File:Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand | 48–30 | File:Flag of Scotland.svg Scotland | Quarter-finals | 20,000 |
| 22 June 1995 | File:Flag of France.svg France | 19–9 | File:Flag of England.svg England | Third-place play-off | 45,000 |
2009 FIFA Confederations Cup
[edit | edit source]Loftus Versfeld was one of the venues for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup.[4] It hosted the Group B matches: USA vs. Italy, USA vs. Brazil and Brazil vs. Italy.[5]
| Date | Time (SAST) | Team 1 | Result | Team 2 | Round | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 June 2009 | 20:30 | File:Flag of the United States.svg United States | 1–3 | File:Flag of Italy.svg Italy | Group B | 34,341 |
| 18 June 2009 | 16:00 | 0–3 | File:Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil | 39,617 | ||
| 21 June 2009 | 20:30 | File:Flag of Italy.svg Italy | 0–3 | 41,195 |
2010 FIFA World Cup
[edit | edit source]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.[6][7] The floodlights, sound system, scoreboards and stadium roof were improved, as roads and parking facilities around it.[6][8] While expected to be finished in August 2008,[6] renovation was completed in January 2009.[9]
| Date | Time (SAST) | Team 1 | Result | Team 2 | Round | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 June 2010 | 16:00 | File:Flag of Serbia (2004–2010).svg Serbia | 0–1 | File:Flag of Ghana.svg Ghana | Group D | 38,833 |
| 16 June 2010 | 20:30 | File:Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa | 0–3 | File:Flag of Uruguay.svg Uruguay | Group A | 42,658 |
| 19 June 2010 | 20:30 | File:Flag of Cameroon.svg Cameroon | 1–2 | File:Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark | Group E | 38,074 |
| 23 June 2010 | 16:00 | File:Flag of the United States.svg United States | 1–0 | File:Flag of Algeria.svg Algeria | Group C | 35,827 |
| 25 June 2010 | 20:30 | File:Flag of Chile.svg Chile | 1–2 | File:Flag of Spain.svg Spain | Group H | 41,958 |
| 29 June 2010 | 16:00 | File:Flag of Paraguay (1990–2013).svg Paraguay | 0–0 (a.e.t.) (5–3 pen.) |
File:Flag of Japan.svg Japan | Round of 16 | 36,742 |
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Concerts
[edit | edit source]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
[edit | edit source]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
[edit | edit source]Between 1956 and 1959 six first-class cricket matches were played at the stadium.[10]
See also
[edit | edit source]References
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