Overlooking the South End Lake at the heart of Gqeberha, the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium is a five-tier venue built for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. It was the first of five new stadiums to start construction in the run-up to the tournament. The stadium serves as the home of Chippa United Football Club and the Southern Kings, and it regularly hosts large-scale rugby union and soccer matches as well as concerts.
The stadium's design was inspired by a winning prototype concept created by students from Holy Cross High School. The architecture features a unique roof made of a series of white petals, making the building look like a flower. This gave the stadium its nickname, The Protea. The structure stands approximately 40m high and includes five levels on the north, south, and east stands, with six levels on the western side which leads to the North End Lake.
Inside, the stadium seats 46,000 people, with an additional 4,000 seats installed for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The seats are arranged in different shades from light orange to dark red to help the stadium appear full at all times and minimize sun damage. The facility also features 49 hospitality suites, two business lounges, a gymnasium, and several conference rooms.
The stadium eventually cost R2.1 billion to build. The pitch is maintained by a team of five people who ensure the surface is ready for both soccer and rugby, supported by a lighting system and a unit with 6 1,000 watt bulbs to assist areas covered by the shadow of the roof.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Mutabor
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