Interesting facts
- The stadium is named after a giant of a man, Moses Mbheki Mncane Mabhida, who was one of those who helped to forge and maintain the powerful United Front that eventually saw the creation of a democratic and non-racial South Africa
- Its design allows for natural ventilation and creates an incredible sense of space every bit as striking as the stadium’s famous arch
- The shape of the iconic arch was inspired by the “Y shape” on the South African flag
- The different levels of the stadium are supported by 1 750 columns and 216 raking beams that provide the main support to the seating panels
- The roof is made of 46 000 m² of Teflon-coated glass fibre membrane that produces a translucent glow when the stadium is lit up
- The roof is attached to the arch by 95 mm-diametre steel cables
- The 350 m long free-span steel arch weighs 2 600 tonnes (the equivalent of 2 600 average cars)
- The grand centre arch, 106 m high, is not just a design feature. The SkyCar takes visitors up to its highest point, where they can get out and enjoy breathtaking, panoramic views of the city and ocean
- There are 120 luxury suites and business clubs, providing 7 500 VIP seats
- The colour arrangement of the seating was conceptualised to look like the sea flowing onto the beach
- Each seat is spacious and comfortable, providing a clear line-of-sight to the pitch
- The usual stadium seating capacity is 56 000 which can be up-scaled to 85 000 for major events, such as the Olympic Games