"ABSA Stadium" redirects here. For other uses, see ABSA Stadium (disambiguation).
Hollywoodbets Kings Park Stadium
Native nameKings Park Stadium
Former names
  • ABSA Stadium (2000–2010)
  • Mr Price Kings Park (2011–2012)
  • Growthpoint Kings Park (2013–2018)
  • Jonsson Kings Park (2018–2022)
AddressJacko Jackson Drive, Kings Park Sporting Precinct, Stamford Hill
LocationDurban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Owner
Suites350[1]
Capacity
  • 46,000 (regular capacity)[2]
  • 60,000 (max capacity)[1]
Record attendance57,000 (South Africa–New Zealand; 2002 Tri Nations Series)[3][4]
Field shapeRectangular (Football, Rugby union)
SurfaceGrass
Built
  • 1891 (former ground)
  • 1958 (modern ground)[5]
Renovated1976;[6] 1984; 1993–1995
Tenants
Public transit

Kings Park Stadium (known as Hollywoodbets Kings Park for sponsorship reasons since 2022),[7] colloquially known as the Shark Tank, is a stadium located in the Kings Park Sporting Precinct in Durban, South Africa. It is the home of the Sharks rugby union team.

The stadium was originally built with a capacity of 12,000 and opened in 1958,[8][9] extensively renovated in the 1980s and then again in time for the 1995 Rugby World Cup. It currently has a capacity of 46,000,[10] after renovations reduced the capacity from 54,000[8] and is the home ground of the . 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),[11] Mr Price Kings Park Stadium (in 2011 and 2012),[12] Growthpoint Kings Park (between 2013 and early 2017), and Jonsson Kings Park (between 2018 and 2021) due to sponsorship deals.

1995 Rugby World Cup

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.

DateTeamResultTeamRoundAttendance
27 May 199518–24EnglandPool B30,000
31 May 199527–20Italy21,000
4 June 199544–22Samoa20,000
10 June 199536–12IrelandQuarter-final18,000
17 June 199519–15FranceSemi-final18,000

1996 African Cup of Nations

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.

DateTeamResultTeamRoundAttendance
16 January 1996Gabon1–2LiberiaGroup C5,000
19 January 1996Gabon2–0Zaire4,000
24 January 1996Angola3–3CameroonGroup A6,000
28 January 1996Gabon1–1 (1–4 )TunisiaQuarter-final4,000
31 January 1996Zambia2–4TunisiaSemi-final5,000

Other events

ArtistTourDate
Whitney HoustonThe Bodyguard World Tour8 November 1994
RoxetteCrash! Boom! Bang! Tour6 January 1995
Bon JoviThese Days Tour3 December 1995
Tina TurnerWildest Dreams Tour18 April 1996
Gloria EstefanEvolution World Tour20 March 1997
Michael JacksonHIStory World Tour (the last show of the tour)15 October 1997
Janet JacksonThe Velvet Rope Tour19 November 1998
LiveThe Distance to Here Tour20 June 2000
R.E.M.Around the Sun Tour8 March 2005
MetallicaEscape from the Studio '0621 March 2006
Robbie WilliamsClose Encounters Tour10 April 2006
Celine DionTaking Chances World Tour20 February 2008
Rod StewartSouth Africa Tour4 December 2008

Springbok matches

DateOpponentResultWinnerCompetitionAttendance
21 July 1962British & Irish Lions3–0South Africa1962 British Lions tour of South Africa40,000
23 May 1964Wales24–3South Africa1964 Wales tour of Kenya and South Africa35,000
15 July 1967France26–3South Africa1967 France tour of South Africa39,000
16 August 1969Australia16–9South Africa1969 Australia tour of South Africa40,000
19 June 1971France8–8draw1971 France tour of South Africa40,000
24 July 1976New Zealand16–7South Africa1976 New Zealand tour of South Africa46,000
3 May 1980South American XV18–9South Africa1980 South American XV tour of South Africa37,000
6 June 1981Ireland12–10South Africa1981 Ireland tour of South Africa38,600
17 May 1986New Zealand Cavaliers18–19New Zealand Cavaliers1986 New Zealand Cavaliers tour of South Africa42,000
26 June 1993France20–20draw1993 France tour of South Africa45,000
17 June 1995France19–15South Africa1995 Rugby World Cup49,773
17 August 1996New Zealand19–23New Zealand1996 New Zealand tour of South Africa52,000
28 June 1997British & Irish Lions15–18British & Irish Lions1997 British Lions tour of South Africa50,000
15 August 1998New Zealand24–23South Africa1998 Tri Nations Series45,000
19 June 1999Italy101–0South Africa1999 Italy tour of South Africa36,210
26 August 2000Australia18–19Australia2000 Tri Nations Series52,000
23 June 2001France20–15South Africa2001 France tour of South Africa and New Zealand44,794
10 August 2002New Zealand23–30New Zealand2002 Tri Nations Series57,000
7 June 2003Scotland29–25South Africa2003 Scotland tour of South Africa37,528
21 August 2004Australia23–19South Africa2004 Tri Nations Series52,247
18 June 2005France30–30draw2005 France tour of South Africa and Australia50,419
10 June 2006Scotland36–16South Africa2006 Scotland tour of South Africa32,066
23 June 2007New Zealand21–26New Zealand2007 Tri Nations Series51,861
23 August 2008Australia15–27Australia2008 Tri Nations Series48,123
20 June 2009British & Irish Lions26–21South Africa2009 British & Irish Lions tour of South Africa49,055
1 August 2009New Zealand31–19South Africa2009 Tri Nations Series43,149
13 August 2011Australia9–14Australia2011 Tri Nations Series47,850
9 June 2012England22–17South Africa2012 England tour of South Africa43,052
8 June 2013Italy44–10South AfricaQuadrangular Tournament23,663
14 June 2014Wales38–16South Africa2014 Wales tour of South Africa37,182
8 August 2015Argentina25–37Argentina2015 Rugby Championship27,447
8 October 2016New Zealand15–57New Zealand2016 Rugby Championship51,500
17 June 2017France37–15South Africa2017 France tour of South Africa27,712
18 August 2018Argentina34–21South Africa2018 Rugby Championship26,836
24 September 2022Argentina38–21South Africa2022 Rugby Championship45,982
13 July 2024Ireland24-25Ireland2024 Ireland tour of South Africa52,000
27 September 2025Argentina67-30South Africa2025 Rugby Championship45,158

Statistics

Statistics updated to most recent match against Ireland, 13 July 2024.

OpponentPWDLW%FADiff.
Argentina9779+18
Australia8188–7
British & Irish Lions4439+5
England2217+5
France160106+54
IRE3635+1
Italy14510+135
New Zealand149185–36
New Zealand Cavaliers1819–1
Scotland6541+24
South American XV189+9
Wales6219+43
Opponent362231161.11897647+250

Future

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.[13] However, this is unlikely as they have a 50-year lease on Kings Park which runs to 2056.[14]

Notes

  1. ^ The Sharks formerly participated in the Super Rugby competition between 1996 and 2020.

References

  1. ^ "2010 Bid Book Annex". serve.mg.co.za. Archived 22 September 2021 at the Wayback Machine.
  2. ^ https://www.news24.com/sport/rugby/springboks/kings-park-sold-out-in-90-minutes-for-springboks-v-ireland-2nd-test-20240311
  3. ^ "Clockwatch: SA 23–30 NZ". BBC Sport. 10 August 2002.
  4. ^ "All Blacks edge Durban thriller". BBC Sport. 10 August 2002.
  5. ^ Davis, Kitty (18 November 2018). "Kings Park Stadium". sastadiums.com. SA Stadiums. Archived 14 March 2024 at the Wayback Machine.
  6. ^ "Kings Park Rugby Stadium (Shark Tank)". lekkeslaap.co.za. Archived 14 March 2024 at the Wayback Machine.
  7. ^ "Time for a Break" (in en-ZA). The Sharks. 2020-03-16. Retrieved 2021-07-26.
  8. ^ "Stadium history". The Sharks. Archived from the original on 2014-07-07. Retrieved 25 Jun 2014.
  9. ^ "Facts about Durban - Kings Park". Allan Jackson. 6 Mar 2007. Retrieved 25 Jun 2014.
  10. ^ Burnard, Lloyd. "Kings Park sold out in 90 minutes for Springboks v Ireland, 2nd Test". Sport. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
  11. ^ "Sharks Boss Says Absa Dropped Sponsorship to Back Boks". allAfrica. 27 October 2010. Retrieved 2 November 2010.
  12. ^ "Sharks look for new sponsor". News24. 18 February 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  13. ^ "Demolish Absa Stadium, Newlands". iol News. 19 July 2009. Retrieved 27 June 2010.
  14. ^ "Sharks to Stay Put". The Sharks. 19 November 2010. Archived from the original on 23 November 2010.