Kings Park Stadium

The Kings Park Stadium (known as the Jonsson Kings Park for sponsorship reasons since March 8th 2018),[1] is a stadium located in the Kings Park Sporting Precinct in Durban, South Africa.

"ABSA Stadium" redirects here. For other uses, see ABSA Stadium (disambiguation).

Kings Park Stadium
Shark Tank
Aerial view of stadium in 2013
AddressJacko Jackson Drive,
Durban,
South Africa
LocationStamford Hill
OwnereThekwini Metropolitan Municipality
Capacity52,000
Construction
Opened28 June 1958
Renovated1984, 1993–1995
Tenants
Sharks, Sharks (Currie Cup)

The stadium was originally built with a capacity of 12,000 and opened in 1958,[2][3] extensively renovated in the 1980s and then again in time for the 1995 Rugby World Cup. It currently has a capacity of 52,000[2] and is the home ground of the Sharks. The stadium has also been used by Durban-based Premier Soccer League football (soccer) clubs, as well as for large football finals.

It was previously also known as the ABSA Stadium (between 2000 and 2010),[4] Mr Price Kings Park Stadium (in 2011 and 2012)[5] and Growthpoint Kings Park (between 2013 and early 2018) 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 South Africa. The stadium hosted three pool games in Pool B. The stadium also hosted one quarter final with France defeating Ireland 36–12. A very wet semi final was played here on 17 June 1995 between South Africa and France, with the Springboks winning 19–15 on their way to the nation's first ever Rugby World Cup trophy.

Date Team #1 Res. Team #2 Round Attendance
1995-05-27 Argentina18–24 EnglandPool B30,000
1995-05-31 England27–20 ItalyPool B21,000
1995-06-04 England44–22 Western SamoaPool B20,000
1995-06-10 France36–12 IrelandQuarter Final18,000
1995-06-17 South Africa19–15 FranceSemi Final50,000

1996 African Cup of Nations

The stadium was one of four venues for the 1996 African Cup of Nations. It hosted 3 group matches, a quarter final and semi final.

Date Team #1 Res. Team #2 Round Attendance
1996-01-16 Gabon1–2 LiberiaGroup C5,000
1996-01-19 Gabon2–0 ZaireGroup c6,000
1996-01-24 Angola3–3 CameroonGroup A6,000
1996-01-28 Gabon1-1 (1-4 on pen.) TunisiaQuarterfinal4,000
1996-01-31 Zambia2–4 TunisiaSemifinal5,000

Other events
ArtistTourDate
Whitney HoustonThe Bodyguard World Tour8 November 1994
RoxetteCrash! Boom! Bang! Tour6 January 1995
Bon JoviThese Days Tour3 December 1995
Tina TurnerWildest Dreams Tour18 April 1996
Gloria EstefanEvolution World Tour20 March 1997
Michael JacksonHIStory World Tour (the last show of the tour)15 October 1997
Janet JacksonThe Velvet Rope Tour19 November 1998
MetallicaEscape from the Studio '0621 March 2006
Robbie WilliamsClose Encounters Tour10 April 2006
Celine DionTaking Chances World Tour20 February 2008
Rod StewartSouth Africa Tour4 December 2008

Future

With the construction of the new Moses Mabhida Stadium for the 2010 FIFA World Cup less than 200m away, the local government had hoped that the Sharks would have relocated.[6] However, this is unlikely as they have a 50-year lease on Kings Park which runs to 2056.[7]

References
  1. https://sharksrugby.co.za/2020/03/16/time-for-a-break/
  2. "Stadium history". The Sharks. Archived from the original on 2014-07-07. Retrieved 25 Jun 2014.
  3. "Facts about Durban - Kings Park". Allan Jackson. 6 Mar 2007. Retrieved 25 Jun 2014.
  4. "Sharks Boss Says Absa Dropped Sponsorship to Back Boks". allAfrica. 27 October 2010. Retrieved 2 November 2010.
  5. "Sharks look for new sponsor". News24. 18 February 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  6. "Demolish Absa Stadium, Newlands". iol News. 19 July 2009. Retrieved 27 June 2010.
  7. "Sharks to Stay Put". The Sharks. 19 November 2010. Archived from the original on 23 November 2010.
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