| Capacity | 62,567 |
|---|---|
| City | Johannesburg |
| Country | South Africa |
| Opened | 1928 |
| Surface | Grass |
| Home teams | Lions, South Africa |
| Competitions | Rugby's Greatest Rivalry, The Rugby Championship, United Rugby Championship |
Ellis Park holds 62,567 and sits in Doornfontein, on the eastern edge of central Johannesburg. The Lions play their home matches here and the Springboks return for Tests most seasons.
Ellis Park capacity
The ground seats 62,567. It was rebuilt in the early 1980s on the site of the original 1928 stadium and has carried the sponsor name Emirates Airline Park since 2014, though almost nobody in Johannesburg calls it that.
What has been won here
South Africa beat New Zealand 15-12 in the 1995 World Cup final at Ellis Park, the match Nelson Mandela attended in a Springboks jersey. It opened the 2026 Rivalry Tour on 22 August, when New Zealand won the first Test 33-16, scoring five tries to one.
Who plays at Ellis Park
The Lions use it for United Rugby Championship and Currie Cup fixtures. It sits at roughly 1,750m above sea level, which visiting sides consistently name as the hardest part of playing there.
Last updated 23 August 2026
