Inside the Moses Mabhida Stadium

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The Moses Mabhida Stadium is going to be one of the hosts of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. This stadium is located in Durban, South Africa, and is named after a former General Secretary of the South African Communist Party.

Construction on the Moses Mabhida Stadium began in January in 2007, and opened November 28, 2009. The stadium can seat up to 85,000 spectators, qualifying it to be a reasonable accommodation for the Olympic Games. But, for smaller activities, the seating can be scaled down to 54,000. Other sporting events and leisurely activities will take place after the 2010 Soccer World Cups, such as concerts, rugby games, cricket games, football, and other activities. The Moses Mabhida Stadium has 150 hospitality suites with 7,500 seats in them total.

The stadium is meant to be open 365 days of the year, so it will host a variety of games in its existence. In 2010 it will be one of the many hosts for the Soccer World Cup for seven games in June. The first game ever played in the Moses Mabhida Stadium was on November 29, 2009, for Amazulu versus Maritzburg Untied, which Maritzburg won 1 to 0.

The stadium's breathtaking design will be an icon for the people of South Africa. The stadium features an arch resembling the Flag of Durban. The legs of the arch represent the uniting of the once dived nation. The arch is designed to have a cable car attached to it that goes up one side of the arch and lets spectators enjoy the skyline and ocean view from the top of the stadium at 105 m from the ground. The car fits about 25 people, and the ride itself, not including the opportunity to get out and enjoy the view, is about two minutes long. The other leg of the arch has an Adventure walk, where people can walk up 550 steps on leg of the arch and view the sites from the top also. Even the roof has an interesting design feature. The roof is made of Teflon-coated glass fibers, and when the stadium's lights are on, the roof has a translucent glow visible in the night sky of Durban. The roof also covers 95% of the seats, just in case of rain or any other weather.

There are many other attractions surrounding the Moses Mabhida Stadium like restaurants, parks, beaches, and shops. Such attractions make the stadium an ideal location for a vacation in Durban. The Moses Mabhida Stadium sits right along a beach of the Indian Ocean. For fans who want to attend the World Cup, a 2010 World Cup accommodation shouldn't be hard to find. There is one accommodation that is very close to the Moses Mabhida Stadium called Casa Playa. This home has 300 square meters that a resident can enjoy right on the Umhlanga Rocks Beach. The 2010 World Cup accommodation offers self catering and is directly next to the Umhlanga Sands Hotel. As well as cafes, shops, cocktail bars, and beauty salons, the apartment offers a getaway of relaxation, comfort, and beautiful views.

Find out more about a luxury self-catering apartment in Durban that is right on the beach.

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