Kings_Park_Stadium
Kings Park Stadium
Sports venue in Durban, South Africa
Kings Park Stadium (known as Hollywoodbets Kings Park for sponsorship reasons since 2022),[8] colloquially known as the Shark Tank, is a stadium located in the Kings Park Sporting Precinct in Durban, South Africa.
| Kings Park Stadium | |
Shark Tank | |
| Former names |
|
|---|---|
| Address | Jacko Jackson Drive, Kings Park Sporting Precinct, Stamford Hill |
| Location | Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
| Coordinates | 29°49′30″S 31°1′47″E |
| Public transit | |
| Owner |
|
| Executive suites | 350[1] |
| Capacity | |
| Record attendance | 57,000 (South Africa–New Zealand; 2002 Tri Nations Series)[6][7] |
| Field shape | Rectangular (Football, Rugby union) |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Built |
|
| Renovated | 1976;[5] 1984; 1993–1995 |
| Tenants | |
| |
![](./File:Toulouse_"Train"_symbol.svg){kind=small}
The stadium was originally built with a capacity of 12,000 and opened in 1958,[9][10] extensively renovated in the 1980s and then again in time for the 1995 Rugby World Cup. It currently has a capacity of 46,000,[11] after renovations reduced the capacity from 54,000[9] and is the home ground of the Sharks. The stadium is also 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),[12] Mr Price Kings Park Stadium (in 2011 and 2012),[13] Growthpoint Kings Park (between 2013 and early 2017), and Jonsson Kings Park (between 2018 and 2021) due to sponsorship deals.
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.
| Date | Team | Result | Team | Round | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 May 1995 | Argentina  |
18–24 |  England |
Pool B | 30,000 |
| 31 May 1995 | England |
27–20 |  Italy |
21,000 | |
| 4 June 1995 | England |
44–22 |  Western Samoa |
20,000 | |
| 10 June 1995 | France  |
36–12 |  Ireland |
Quarter-final | 18,000 |
| 17 June 1995 | South Africa  |
19–15 |  France |
Semi-final | 18,000 |
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 | Result | Team | Round | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 January 1996 | Gabon  |
1–2 |  Liberia |
Group C | 5,000 |
| 19 January 1996 | Gabon |
2–0 |  Zaire |
4,000 | |
| 24 January 1996 | Angola  |
3–3 |  Cameroon |
Group A | 6,000 |
| 28 January 1996 | Gabon |
1–1 (a.e.t.) (1–4 (p)) |  Tunisia |
Quarter-final | 4,000 |
| 31 January 1996 | Zambia  |
2–4 | Tunisia |
Semi-final | 5,000 |
| Artist | Tour | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Whitney Houston | The Bodyguard World Tour | 8 November 1994 |
| Roxette | Crash! Boom! Bang! Tour | 6 January 1995 |
| Bon Jovi | These Days Tour | 3 December 1995 |
| Tina Turner | Wildest Dreams Tour | 18 April 1996 |
| Gloria Estefan | Evolution World Tour | 20 March 1997 |
| Michael Jackson | HIStory World Tour (the last show of the tour) | 15 October 1997 |
| Janet Jackson | The Velvet Rope Tour | 19 November 1998 |
| Metallica | Escape from the Studio '06 | 21 March 2006 |
| Robbie Williams | Close Encounters Tour | 10 April 2006 |
| Celine Dion | Taking Chances World Tour | 20 February 2008 |
| Rod Stewart | South Africa Tour | 4 December 2008 |
Statistics
Statistics updated to most recent match against Argentina, 24 September 2022.
| Opponent | P | W | D | L | W% | F | A | Diff. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 066.67 | 97 | 79 | +18 |
 Australia |
5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 040.00 | 81 | 88 | –7 |
 British & Irish Lions |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 066.67 | 44 | 39 | +5 |
| England |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 | 22 | 17 | +5 |
| France |
7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 057.14 | 160 | 106 | +54 |
| Ireland |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 | 12 | 10 | +2 |
| Italy |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 | 145 | 10 | +135 |
 New Zealand |
7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 042.86 | 149 | 185 | –36 |
| New Zealand Cavaliers |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 000.00 | 18 | 19 | –1 |
 Scotland |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 | 65 | 41 | +24 |
| South American XV | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 | 18 | 9 | +9 |
 Wales |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 | 62 | 19 | +43 |
| Opponent | 35 | 22 | 3 | 10 | 62.86 | 873 | 622 | +251 |
| P | W | D | L | W% | F | A | Diff. | |
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 relocate.[14] However, this is unlikely as they have a 50-year lease on Kings Park which runs to 2056.[15]
- The Sharks formerly participated in the Super Rugby competition between 1996 and 2020.
- "2010 Bid Book Annex" (PDF). serve.mg.co.za. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 September 2021.
- Millward, Robert (2 April 2010). "Durban stadium a tourist trap". NBC. NBCUniversal. Archived from the original on 2 October 2022.
The stadium sits alongside the 56,000-capacity Kings Park rugby stadium, which is the home to the Sharks rugby union team and regularly hosts national team games. It was strongly hoped that the Sharks would move next door to the new stadium but they have a 50-year lease on Kings Park and only a huge amount of money will persuade them to leave.
- Davis, Kitty (18 November 2018). "Kings Park Stadium". sastadiums.com. SA Stadiums. Archived from the original on 14 March 2024.
- "Kings Park Stadium, Durban". en.espn.co.uk. ESPN. Archived from the original on 14 March 2024.
- "Kings Park Rugby Stadium (Shark Tank)". lekkeslaap.co.za. Archived from the original on 14 March 2024.
- "Clockwatch: SA 23–30 NZ". BBC Sport. 10 August 2002.
- "All Blacks edge Durban thriller". BBC Sport. 10 August 2002.
- "Time for a Break". The Sharks. 16 March 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
- "Stadium history". The Sharks. Archived from the original on 7 July 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
- "Facts about Durban - Kings Park". Allan Jackson. 6 March 2007. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
- Burnard, Lloyd. "Kings Park sold out in 90 minutes for Springboks v Ireland, 2nd Test". Sport. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
- "Sharks Boss Says Absa Dropped Sponsorship to Back Boks". allAfrica. 27 October 2010. Retrieved 2 November 2010.
- "Sharks look for new sponsor". News24. 18 February 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
- "Demolish Absa Stadium, Newlands". iol News. 19 July 2009. Retrieved 27 June 2010.
- "Sharks to Stay Put". The Sharks. 19 November 2010. Archived from the original on 23 November 2010.
