FNB Stadium, officially named First National Bank Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium located in Johannesburg, South Africa. It is used mostly for association football matches, hosting the home games of South African club Kaizer Chiefs, its primary tenant.
Opened on 29 July 1989 with an exhibition match between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, it replaced the original FNB Stadium, which had 80,000 seats. The seating capacity of the new stadium is currently set at 94,736. The stadium was designed by Boogertman & Partners and had a construction cost of $440 million.
A FIFA category four stadium and one of the biggest stadiums by capacity in the world (the biggest in Africa), FNB Stadium hosted several matches of the FIFA World Cup 2010, including its final, as well as the 2013 and 2018 finals of the African Cup of Nations. It was elected the most beautiful stadium of Africa in a 2015 online poll by L'Équipe. By its thirtieth birthday, First National Bank Stadium had welcomed more than 37 million spectators. The stadium is one of the potential venues for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which South Africa is bidding to host.
While the previous FNB stadium was also officially named 'First National Bank Stadium', both the old and the new stadia are invariably referred to by their unofficial name, FNB Stadium. FNB is the name of the bank that sponsored the stadium, located on the border of Nasrec, near Johannesburg's Soweto area. This unofficial name caught on soon after the original stadium's construction; the people of Johannesburg used to simply call it the Calabash due to its design resembling a traditional African pot or gourd. Therefore, the stadium's common name became 'FNB Stadium', which is usually anglicized to 'FNB Stadium'. This translation, however, could be argued to be inaccurate, since FNB refers not to an African pot or gourd but to the original sponsor of the stadium: First National Bank.
The FNB Stadium is recognized as the main venue for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the first such tournament held in Africa. The stadium underwent a major upgrade for the event, increasing its capacity to 94,736, making it the largest stadium in Africa and the fifth largest in the world. The design, inspired by the shape of an African pot, is a symbol of South Africa's heritage and its ability to unify people through sport.
Over the years, the FNB Stadium has hosted numerous significant events, including Nelson Mandela's first speech in Johannesburg after his release from prison in 1990 and his memorial service in 2013. It has also been the venue for various sporting events, concerts, and cultural events, making it a central part of South Africa's social and cultural landscape.
Today, the FNB Stadium continues to be an iconic landmark in South Africa, representing the country's commitment to unity, progress, and the power of sport. Its impressive design and size, along with its rich history, make it a must-visit destination for tourists and locals alike.
An appropriate site, with good accessibility and sufficient room for future expansion was identified in the downtown area of Johannesburg. Being located at the confluence of the major business district and the cultural heart of the city, the new stadium was initially known as 'FNB Stadium'.
The club's goal was always to own both the stadium and the lands, though at first a lease was made on the municipal lands, with a final buy-out occurring only in 1989. The plans for the sports complex had been sketched as early as the mid-1970s by Jack Longland, a former player for the club.
Driven by the club's president, Raymond Hack, the associates coped with an increased fee for supporting the building costs for the new stadium, offered large donations, and some went as far as to work themselves on the construction site on holidays or weekends. There was even a 'cement campaign', whereby large quantities of cement bags were offered to the club.
The works officially started on 3 July 1986. Less than three years after, and at a cost of 440 million Rand, on 24 July 1989 (a national holiday), a 80,000-capacity crowd filled the stadium for the inaugural match against rivals Kaizer Chiefs.
'First National Bank Stadium (1989)': Detailed information about the construction and opening of the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa. http://www.fnbstadium.co.za/history
'FNB Stadium (The Calabash) – until 2003': Information about the FNB Stadium's nickname and its use until 2003. http://www.stadiumdb.com/stadiums/rsa/fnb_stadium
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