The Arusha Sports Stadium, is a planned multi-purpose stadium in Tanzania. It is intended to be used for the first time, during the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations soccer tournament. The stadium is one of the stadia that Tanzania plans to use during the tournament, that will be jointly hosted by Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.[1]
  Arusha Sports Stadium Location within Tanzania | |
| Location | Olomoti, Arusha, Arusha Region, Tanzania |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 03°22′58″S 36°36′55″E / 3.38278°S 36.61528°E |
| Capacity | 30,000 (Expected) |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 6 April 2024 |
| Built | 2024 - 2026 (Expected) |
| Opened | 2026 (Expected) |
| Construction cost | TZS:286 billion (US$111 million) |
| Main contractors | China Railway Construction Engineering Group Limited (CRCEG) |
Location edit
The stadium would be located in the city of Arusha, in Arusha Region, in northeastern Tanzania. The proposed stadium will sit on a total of 36.1 acres (14.6 ha) of real estate, in "Olmoti Ward", on land owned by the Tanzanian Ministry of Culture Arts and Sports.[2]
Overview edit
Arusha Sports Stadium is mainly intended for soccer matches, although other sports such as athletics are also expected to be practiced here. The stadium has a proposed capacity of 30,000. The primary purpose of this stadium is to be part of the host stadia that Tanzania will use to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations in a tri-state-host tournament to be held in the East African countries of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. The other Tanzanian stadium is the 60,000 seater Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium, in Dar es Salaam.[2][3]
In September 2023, the Confederation of African Football (CAF), announced the East Africa Pamoja bid by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania as the winning bid to host the 2027 AFCON tournament. The bid beat out other bids by other countries including Egypt, Senegal, Botswana and Algeria.[4]
At the bidding stage the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) nominated Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium in Dar es Salaam and two new stadia, one in the capital city of Dodoma and the other in Arusha.[5] In April 2024, The Citizen reported that the third stadium will not be the proposed new Dodoma Stadium, but instead the 15,000 seater Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar.[6]
Construction edit
The engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract was awarded to China Railway Construction Engineering Group Limited (CRCEG), a Chinese state-owned company at a contract price of TZS:286 billion (approx. US$111 million). Construction is expected to start in April 2024 and last approximately two years.[1][2]
On 6 April 2024, the construction site was officially handed over to the contractor by Damas Ndumbaro, the Tanzanian Minister for Culture, Arts and Sports. Construction is expected to start immediately and last 22 months.[6]
Official name edit
Some stakeholders have proposed to name this stadium as Samia Suluhu Hassan Stadium, in honor of Samia Suluhu Hassan, the current President of Tanzania. That decision awaits the opinion of the head of state.[2][6]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b Majuto Omary (19 March 2024). "Tanzania to build Sh286 billion Afcon stadium in Arusha". The Citizen (Tanzania). Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
- ^ a b c d Majuto Omary (12 March 2024). "Arusha's Stadium proposed to be named after Samia Suluhu Hassan". The Citizen (Tanzania). Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
- ^ Peter Tabu (20 September 2023). "AFCON Pamoja Bid: Tanzania's Benjamin Mkapa stadium renovation nears completion". Pulse Sports Uganda. Kampala, Uganda. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
- ^ Mohamed Issa (9 November 2023). "Write up for Afcon 2027 joint preparedness resolved". The EastAfrican. Nairobi, Kenya. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
- ^ Agence France-Presse (28 September 2023). "Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania leaders rejoice after successful Afcon bid". The EastAfrican. Nairobi, Kenya. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
- ^ a b c Alawi Masare (6 April 2024). "Tanzania heightens preparations for Afcon as construction of Sh286 billion stadium starts". The Citizen (Tanzania). Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Retrieved 7 April 2024.