STUDIETOER VAN STADIONS 1968:

46 pages: illustrations (all colour, laid down), plans, diagrams, maps. Oblong quarto. Wiro-bound, covers laminated.

By the middle of the 1960s the Transvaal Rugby Union (TRU), under the presidency of Jannie le Roux, decided that the old Ellis Park stadium needed to be replaced. They commissioned the architectural firm A.O. Endres and the engineering firm of Bruinette, Kruger, Stoffberg & Hugo, of Jorissen Street, Braamfontein to complete this task. During the course of 1968 members of the TRU executive, the architect Mr Endres and Dr K. Bruinette toured stadiums around the world to ascertain the latest trends in stadium construction, town planning around stadiums and the effect on the local environment such stadiums led to.

The TRU went through a number of bleak financial years during the years after 1969 as apartheid impacted on their income as sporting isolation deepened. To their credit they persevered and the new Ellis Park was inaugurated in late 1982. The old Ellis Park had already become the 'home' of Springbok rugby. Able to draw vast crowds, (the first time more than 100 000 watched a rugby union match anywhere in the world was at that venue in 1955). The new stadium was to set a benchmark for stadiums all around the world and in turn those contemplating building their own stadiums began to visit Johannesburg.

The 'new' Ellis Park contained fantastic facilities for both teams, for medical staff, for the press, for local dignitaries and, a first in Africa, 'executive boxes' which were rented out at much higher rates. To the amazement of all, even referees were provided with state of the art facilities, TVs, fridges, lounges, massage tables etc which must have endeared the local Union to them! Stadiums across SA followed suit.

The stadium tour is fully documented in this original folio. The stadiums visited are listed and Polaroid photographs inserted to provide additional information. The stadiums visited included: Colosseum (Rome), Eden Park (Auckland), Olympic Stadium (Meiji - Japan), San Diego Stadium, Dodgers Stadium, Anaheim, Houston Astrodome, Atlanta Stadium, Busch Stadium, (St. Louis), Washington Stadium, Shea Stadium, the Rose Bowl, Orange Bowl Miami, Tampa Stadium (all USA), Twickenham (London), Cardiff Arms Park (Wales), Palazzetto Dello Sport (Italy) and stadiums in Germany.

Careful analysis shows how the TRU had to balance the size of the stadium against the fact that those seated in the back rows had to actually be able to see the game and not be too far away from the field, yet the inclines of steps to climb to get there had to be manageable. Over half a century has passed and Ellis Park remains the focal point of South African rugby.

The legacy of the designers of the new Ellis Park lives on.