View source for Free State Stadium

{{Short description|Stadium in South Africa}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Use South African English|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox stadium
| stadium_name        = Toyota Stadium
| nickname            = 
| image               = File:Free State Stadium1.jpg
| fullname            = Toyota Stadium 
| location            = Kings Way, [[Bloemfontein]], [[South Africa]]
| coordinates         = {{coord|29|7|2|S|26|12|32|E|type:landmark|display=it}}
| broke_ground        = 
| built               = 1955<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fscheetahs.co.za/stadium#stadium-history|title=Stadium &#124; Toyota Cheetahs}}</ref>
| renovated           = 1995
| expanded            = 2009
| closed              = 
| demolished          = 
| owner               = 
| operator            = [[Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality]]
| surface             = [[Ryegrass]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fscheetahs.co.za/stadium#stadium-facts|title = Stadium &#124; Toyota Cheetahs}}</ref>
| construction_cost   = 
| architect           = 
| structural engineer = 
| services engineer   = 
| general_contractor  = 
| project_manager     = 
| main_contractors    = 
| former_names        = Vodacom Park
| tenants             = [[Cheetahs (rugby union)|Cheetahs]]<br>[[Free State Cheetahs]]<br>[[Bloemfontein Celtic]]
| seating_capacity    = 42,000<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fscheetahs.co.za/stadium.aspx?TID=2|title = Stadium &#124; Toyota Cheetahs}}</ref>
| dimensions          ={{convert|100|x|70|m}} 
| scoreboard          =yes 
|publictransit=[[Bloemfontein railway station]]
|suites=100<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fscheetahs.co.za/stadium#stadium-facts|title = Stadium &#124; Toyota Cheetahs}}</ref>}}

The '''Free State Stadium''' ({{langx|af|Vrystaatstadion}}), currently known as the '''Toyota Stadium''' for sponsorship reasons and formerly known as '''Vodacom Park''', is a stadium in [[Bloemfontein]] in the [[Free State (province)|Free State]] of [[South Africa]], used mainly for [[rugby union]] and also sometimes for [[association football]]. It was originally built for the [[1995 Rugby World Cup]], and was one of the venues for the [[2010 FIFA World Cup]].

The primary rugby union tenants of the facility are the [[Free State Cheetahs]], which participate in South Africa's domestic competition, the [[Currie Cup]]. Previously, the [[Cheetahs (rugby union)|Cheetahs]] represented the [[Free State (South African province)|Free State]] and [[Northern Cape]] provinces in the international [[Pro14]] competition.

Until their sale before the start of the [[2021–22 South African Premier Division]], the primary association football tenant was [[Bloemfontein Celtic F.C.|Bloemfontein Celtic]], who played in South Africa's domestic [[Premier Soccer League]].

== Notable matches ==

=== 1995 Rugby World Cup ===
The stadium was one of the host venues for the [[1995 Rugby World Cup]]. It hosted first-round matches in Pool C during the tournament.

{{clear}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: left;" width="100%"
|-
!Date
!Team #1
!Res.
!Team #2
!Round
!Attendance
|-
|27 May 1995||{{ru|JPN|1870}} ||style="text-align:center;"|10–57||{{ru|WAL}}|| rowspan="3" |[[1995 Rugby World Cup|Group C]]||style="text-align:center;"|12,000
|-
|31 May 1995||{{ru|Ireland}} ||style="text-align:center;"|50–28||{{ru|JPN|1870}}|| style="text-align:center;" |15,000
|-
|4 June 1995<sup>1</sup>||{{ru|JPN|1870}} ||style="text-align:center;"|17–145||{{ru|NZL}}|| style="text-align:center;" |17,000
|}

=== 1996 African Cup of Nations ===

The Free State Stadium was one of venues used for the [[1996 African Cup of Nations]]. It hosted six group matches and a quarter-final match:

{{clear}}
{| class="wikitable"  style="text-align:left; width:100%;"
|-
!Date
!Time ([[South African Standard Time|SAST]])
!Team #1
!Result
!Team #2
!Round
!Attendance
|-
|14 January 1996||  ||{{fb|ZAM|1964}} ||style="text-align:center;"|0–0||{{fb|ALG}}|| rowspan="5" |Group B||style="text-align:center;"|9,000
|-
|15 January 1996||  ||{{fb|SLE}}||style="text-align:center;"|2–1||{{fb|BFA}}|| style="text-align:center;" |1,500
|-
|18 January 1996||  ||{{fb|ALG}}||style="text-align:center;"|2–0||{{fb|SLE}}|| style="text-align:center;" |1,500
|-
|20 January 1996||  || rowspan="2" |{{fb|ZAM|1964}}||style="text-align:center;"|5–1||{{fb|BFA}}|| style="text-align:center;" |2,000
|-
|24 January 1996||  || style="text-align:center;" |4–0||{{fb|SLE}}|| style="text-align:center;" |200
|-
|25 January 1996||  ||{{fb|GHA}} ||style="text-align:center;"|2–0||{{fb|MOZ}}||Group D||style="text-align:center;"|3,500
|-
|27 January 1996||  ||{{fb|ZAM|1964}} ||style="text-align:center;"|3–1||{{fb|EGY}} ||Quarter-finals||style="text-align:center;"|8,500
|}

=== 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup ===
The Free State Stadium was one of the host venues for the [[2009 FIFA Confederations Cup]].

{{clear}}
{| class="wikitable"  style="text-align:left; width:100%;"
|-
!Date
!Time ([[South African Standard Time|SAST]])
!Team #1
!Result
!Team #2
!Round
!Attendance
|-
|15 June 2009||16:00||{{fb|BRA}}||style="text-align:center;"|4–3||{{fb|EGY}}||[[2009 FIFA Confederations Cup Group B|Group B]]||style="text-align:center;"|27,851
|-
|17 June 2009||16:00|| rowspan="3" |{{fb|ESP}}||style="text-align:center;"|1–0||{{fb|IRQ}}|| rowspan="2" |[[2009 FIFA Confederations Cup Group A|Group A]]||style="text-align:center;"|30,512
|-
|20 June 2009|| rowspan="2" |20:30|| style="text-align:center;" |2–0||{{fb|RSA}}|| style="text-align:center;" |38,212
|-
|24 June 2009|| style="text-align:center;" |0–2||{{fb|USA}}||[[2009 FIFA Confederations Cup knockout stage#Spain v United States|Semi-finals]]||style="text-align:center;"|35,369
|}

=== 2010 FIFA World Cup ===

Ahead of the [[2010 FIFA World Cup]], a second tier was added to the main grandstand on the western side of the ground, increasing the net capacity from 36,538<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fussballtempel.net/caf/listecaf.html |title=fussballtemple |publisher=Fussballtempel.net |access-date=2010-06-17}}</ref> to 40,911. Additionally, new turnstiles were created, the floodlights upgraded, electronic scoreboards installed, the sound system revamped to the required standards, and [[CCTV]] and media facilities improved.

[[Bloemfontein]] received R221 million to upgrade the stadium. Though cost estimates were at R245 million, the city decided to stand in for the R24m shortfall.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sundaytimes.co.za/SpecialReports/2010WorldCup/Article.aspx?id=361806 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214011342/http://www.sundaytimes.co.za/SpecialReports/2010WorldCup/Article.aspx?id=361806 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2019-12-14 |title=Sunday Times |publisher=Sunday Times |access-date=2010-06-17 }}</ref> Tenders were advertised in February and March 2007. Upgrade work started in July 2007.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bloemfontein.co.za/docs/Free%20State%20stadium%20progress%20report_May08.pdf |title=Official upgrade progress report as at May 2008 |access-date=2010-06-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727102033/http://www.bloemfontein.co.za/docs/Free%20State%20stadium%20progress%20report_May08.pdf |archive-date=2011-07-27 }}</ref>

{{clear}}
{| class="wikitable"  style="text-align:left; width:100%;"
|-
!Date
!Time ([[South African Standard Time|SAST]])
!Team #1
!Result
!Team #2
!Round
!Attendance
|-
|14 June 2010||16.00||{{fb|JPN}}||style="text-align:center;"|1–0||{{Fb|CMR}}||[[2010 FIFA World Cup Group E|Group E]]||style="text-align:center;"|30,620
|-
|17 June 2010||16.00||{{fb|GRE}}||style="text-align:center;"|2–1||{{fb|NGA}}||[[2010 FIFA World Cup Group B|Group B]]||style="text-align:center;"|31,593
|-
|20 June 2010||13.30||{{fb|SVK}}||style="text-align:center;"|0–2||{{fb|PAR|1990}}||[[2010 FIFA World Cup Group F|Group F]]||style="text-align:center;"|26,643
|-
|22 June 2010||16.00||{{fb|FRA|1974}}||style="text-align:center;"|1–2||{{fb|RSA}}||[[2010 FIFA World Cup Group A|Group A]]||style="text-align:center;"|39,415
|-
|25 June 2010||20.30||{{fb|SUI}}||style="text-align:center;"|0–0||{{fb|HON|1949}}||[[2010 FIFA World Cup Group H|Group H]]||style="text-align:center;"|28,042
|-
|27 June 2010||16.00||{{fb|GER}}||style="text-align:center;"|4–1||{{fb|ENG}}||[[2010 FIFA World Cup knockout stage#Germany vs England|Round of 16]]||style="text-align:center;"|40,510
|}

== See also ==

* [[List of stadiums in South Africa]]
* [[List of African stadiums by capacity]]

== References ==

{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category}}
* [http://www.bloemfontein.co.za/ Bloemfontein]: Official municipality website
*[https://cafe.daum.net/stade/Dlwn/25 Photos of Stadiums in South Africa] at [https://cafe.daum.net/stade/ cafe.daum.net/stade]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100425071944/http://in3sixty.com/cms/manager/share/id/1f5389c2-1b15-4bfd-ccad-2541b83dc50a 360 View]

{{1995 Rugby World Cup Venues}}
{{1996 African Cup of Nations Venues}}
{{2009 FIFA Confederations Cup Venues}}
{{2010 FIFA World Cup stadiums}}
{{United Rugby Championship}}
{{Super Rugby stadiums}}

[[Category:Soccer venues in South Africa]]
[[Category:Rugby union stadiums in South Africa]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Bloemfontein]]
[[Category:Sports venues in the Free State (province)]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1995]]