DHL Stadium Cape Town is one of the world’s most spectacular and storied sports and entertainment venues — a 55,000-seat landmark at Fritz Sonnenberg Road, Green Point, Cape Town, built at a cost of R4.4 billion for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and now firmly established as Cape Town’s only mega event space capable of hosting over 60,000 guests per event. Officially renamed the DHL Stadium in June 2021 following a naming rights agreement with global logistics leader DHL, the venue sits between Signal Hill and the Atlantic Ocean at the foot of iconic Table Mountain — offering what is undeniably one of the most breathtaking natural event backdrops anywhere on earth.

As the home ground of the DHL Stormers and Western Province Rugby (since 2021) and Cape Town City FC (since 2016), the DHL Stadium Cape Town is no longer simply a World Cup legacy venue — it is a living, breathing, fully activated event destination hosting everything from international rugby and football to sold-out concerts, corporate conferences, film shoots, and weddings.

Architecture and Design

Designed collaboratively by GMP Architects, Louis Karol Architects, and Point Architects, DHL Stadium Cape Town is an architectural masterpiece. Construction began in March 2007 and the stadium officially opened on 14 December 2009 — just weeks before the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

The stadium’s most iconic feature is its Teflon-coated fibreglass roof — resembling a giant white shell or sail — that covers every seat in the stadium, protecting all 55,000 spectators from the elements while allowing natural light to filter through. The roof structure is supported by a series of cables that allow it to remain transparent and luminous — particularly striking at sunset when lit against the Cape Town sky.

The stadium is also a model of environmental sustainability: the roof collects rainwater for pitch irrigation, a waste management system separates and recycles event waste, and the hybrid grass playing surface (125m × 68m) combines natural grass with synthetic fibres for exceptional durability.

Capacity and Seating Configuration

The stadium offers flexible capacity and comprehensive accessibility features:

• Stadium bowl capacity: 55,000–62,000 (configuration dependent)
• General seating: 50,031 seats
• VIP hospitality seats: 7,336
• Disabled parking: P5 area with easy access to ramps and podium level
• Wheelchair seating: Dedicated accessible sections throughout
• 26 escalators for efficient guest movement between levels

Historic Events and Landmark Moments

No venue in South Africa carries a richer event legacy than DHL Stadium Cape Town.

2010 FIFA World Cup: The stadium hosted 8 World Cup matches — including a quarter-final between Argentina and Germany. A crowd of 64,000 people attended the first-ever FIFA World Cup match at the stadium, the Uruguay vs France group stage game that ended 0-0.

The Match in Africa — Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal (7 February 2020): The defining moment in recent stadium history. 51,000 people attended the charity tennis match between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal — setting the world record for the highest attendance at a tennis event ever. The doubles match featured Federer and Bill Gates vs Nadal and Trevor Noah (Federer and Gates won 6–4). Millions of dollars were raised for children’s education in Africa through Federer’s foundation.

2022 Rugby World Cup Sevens: DHL Stadium hosted the men’s tournament (won by Fiji over New Zealand) and the women’s tournament (Australia over New Zealand).

Other landmark events: Nelson Mandela tribute, Monster Jam, Nitro Circus, British & Irish Lions SA Tour, HSBC Cape Town Sevens Series, Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, Cape Town Cycle Tour Expo.

Film and media: Featured in the Hollywood film Safe House (2012) and the video game Dirt 5.

World-Class Concert Venue

DHL Stadium has established itself as South Africa’s premier destination for international music superstars. The venue has hosted sold-out performances by:

• Coldplay
• U2
• Ed Sheeran
• Rihanna
• Mariah Carey
• Eminem — 37,000 attended in 2014
• Linkin Park
• Justin Bieber

Event Spaces and Conference Facilities

Beyond the main bowl, DHL Stadium Cape Town offers a comprehensive range of corporate and private event spaces:

• Conference Rooms & Breakaway Spaces — intimate and adaptable for 200–1,000 guests
• Presidential Suite — the pinnacle of VIP hospitality at the stadium
• Business Lounge — premium hospitality for corporate clients and VIP guests
• Mixing Zone — a social, energetic space for cocktail events and activations
• VIP Suites — luxury hospitality boxes with premium views
• Stadium Forecourt — ideal for large outdoor events, concerts, and expos
• Hardened Pitch-Side Surface — for close-up event activations and brand experiences
• Media Tribune — professional broadcast and media infrastructure
• Stadium Concourse — for exhibitions, markets, and activations on non-event days

Ideal for: Conferences, award ceremonies, product launches, weddings, film and photo shoots, brand activations, corporate hospitality, and any event requiring a world-class backdrop with Table Mountain and Atlantic Ocean views.

Location and Accessibility

DHL Stadium enjoys a prime location in Green Point, one of Cape Town’s most accessible and scenic neighbourhoods:

• Address: Fritz Sonnenberg Road, Green Point, Cape Town, Western Cape, 8051
• Phone: 021 417 0120
• Website: dhlstadium.co.za
• 3km from Cape Town CBD
• 3km from V&A Waterfront
• Adjacent to Green Point Urban Park
• MyCiTi Bus service runs from Cape Town Civic Centre and Thibault Square to the stadium stop
• Parking: Multiple designated garages and zones; P5 for disabled access; remote parking with free MyCiTi shuttle recommended for major events
• Fan Walk from Cape Town city centre — a vibrant pre-event tradition

Technical Specifications

• Built: 2007 | Opened: 14 December 2009
• Cost: R4.4 billion (~USD $600 million)
• Architects: GMP Architects + Louis Karol Architects + Point Architects
• Capacity: 55,000 (stadium bowl); 62,000+ (full site)
• Naming rights: DHL (since June 2021)
• Home teams: DHL Stormers, Western Province Rugby, Cape Town City FC
• Pitch: Hybrid grass, 125m × 68m
• Best for: International sports fixtures, concerts, corporate conferences, weddings, film shoots, award ceremonies, product launches, community events, cultural celebrations

For event bookings and venue enquiries, visit the official DHL Stadium website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the seating capacity of DHL Stadium?
A: The stadium has a capacity of 55,000 in the stadium bowl, with configuration-dependent capacity reaching up to 62,000 guests across the full site. General seating comprises 50,031 seats, with an additional 7,336 VIP hospitality seats available.

Q: When was DHL Stadium built and opened?
A: Construction began in March 2007 and the stadium officially opened on 14 December 2009. It was built at a cost of R4.4 billion (approximately USD $600 million) to host matches for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Q: Where is DHL Stadium located in Cape Town?
A: The stadium is located at Fritz Sonnenberg Road, Green Point, Cape Town, 8051. It sits between Signal Hill and the Atlantic Ocean at the foot of Table Mountain, approximately 3km from both the Cape Town CBD and the V&A Waterfront.

Q: What types of events can be hosted at DHL Stadium?
A: The venue hosts international sports fixtures, sold-out concerts, corporate conferences, weddings, film shoots, award ceremonies, product launches, and brand activations. Conference rooms accommodate 200–1,000 guests, while the stadium bowl can host over 60,000 people.

Q: Which sports teams call DHL Stadium home?
A: DHL Stadium is the home ground of the DHL Stormers and Western Province Rugby (since 2021) and Cape Town City FC (since 2016). The venue regularly hosts United Rugby Championship matches and Premier Soccer League fixtures.

Q: What was the world record set at DHL Stadium in 2020?
A: On 7 February 2020, DHL Stadium set the world record for the highest attendance at a tennis event ever when 51,000 people attended The Match in Africa charity match between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. The event raised millions of dollars for children’s education in Africa.

Q: How do I get to DHL Stadium using public transport?
A: The MyCiTi Bus service runs from Cape Town Civic Centre and Thibault Square directly to the stadium stop. For major events, remote parking with free MyCiTi shuttle service is recommended, and a Fan Walk from Cape Town city centre is a popular pre-event tradition.

Q: What makes the stadium’s roof design special?
A: The stadium features a Teflon-coated fibreglass roof resembling a giant white shell or sail that covers every seat, protecting all 55,000 spectators from the elements. The roof is supported by cables, remains transparent and luminous, and collects rainwater for pitch irrigation as part of the venue’s environmental sustainability features.

Also explore other popular event venues in the Cape Town event venues directory and Western Cape event venue listings.