Ellis Park Stadium is to be renamed following a multi-million rand deal between the owners of the stadium and Coca Cola.

ONE of the most popular stadiums in the City of Johannesburg, Ellis Park, is to be renamed Coca-Cola Park.

The owners of the stadium, Golden Lions Rugby Union and Ellis Park Stadium (Pty) Ltd, agreed last Wednesday to rename Ellis Park after clinching a R45-million sponsorship deal with Coca-Cola International.

The date of the name change will be announced this week after a follow up meeting between Coca Cola and the stadium owners.

The four-year sponsorship, according to media reports, does not include the 2010 FIFA World Cup, but will allow the soft drink company to utilise the stadium for other events.

Ellis Park Stadium is used as a home ground by Orlando Pirates Football Club and two rugby teams; the Lions and the Cats, and is also the premier concert event in South Africa.

The stadium is earmarked to play host to five first-round matches, a second round match and one of the quarter-finals of the 2010 World Cup. Ellis Park Stadium will also host matches of the FIFA Confederations Cup South Africa 2009™.

Built as a rugby stadium in 1928, Ellis Park was named after JD Ellis, a Johannesburg City councillor who made available 13 acres of land for the stadium. The stadium was built in eight months and in June 1928 the first test was played against the All-Blacks.

In 1995 the stadium was the venue for the finals of the Rugby World Cup which the Springboks won in extra time.

On 17 August 1999 it was the venue of a ceremonial farewell match for former president Nelson Mandela. Some of Africa's top footballing stars, including local heroes Lucas Radebe and Mark Fish, and Kalusha Bwalya and Tijani Babangida took to the field as part of the Nelson Mandela XI.

In 2005 Ellis Park Stadium made history by becoming the first black owned stadium in South Africa. The Golden Lions Rugby Union passed the management of the Ellis Park Precinct to Interza Lesego, Orlando Pirates FC and Ellis Park Stadium (Pty) Ltd, a company with 51 percent black ownership.

Ellis Park Stadium, which forms part of the Ellis Park Precinct, is currently undergoing an upgrade for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, and will be able to seat 61 000.

Work is expected to be complete in time for the Confederations Cup.

Related stories:

• Greater Ellis Park
• Ellis Park tour was 'a success'
• Ellis Park to host Confederations Cup games
• Jozi's top football facilities