In the center of Johannesburg, South Africa, Ellis Park Stadium hosted six Test cricket matches between 1948 and 1954. The stadium underwent a significant upgrade in 1982 to accommodate almost 60,000 people, becoming the country's most modern stadium at that time. A major milestone occurred on 24 June 1995, when the stadium hosted the Rugby World Cup final. South Africa beat New Zealand 15–12 in extra time in front of 65,000 spectators.
Today, Ellis Park continues to host both football and rugby, as well as large events such as open-air concerts. The stadium became synonymous with rugby, as the only time matches were not played there was during 1980 and 1981 while the stadium was under construction. It sits at the heart of a sporting sector in south-east Johannesburg, neighbouring the Johannesburg Stadium, Standard Bank Arena, Ellis Park Tennis Stadium, and an Olympic-class swimming pool.
Originally named after J. D. Ellis, who made 13 acres of land available in 1927, the stadium was built in eight months and opened in June 1928. Over the years, it has held various naming rights, including Coca-Cola Park from 2008 to 2012 and Emirates Airline Park from 2015 until June 2025. In July 2026, it was renamed 10bet Ellis Park. The site is also notable for becoming the first black-owned stadium in South Africa in 2005.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Mutabor
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