Benjamin Mkapa Stadium

{{Short description|Stadium in Temeke District of Dar es Salaam Region, Tanzania}} {{Infobox venue | name = Benjamin Mkapa Stadium | native_name = {{native phrase|sw|Uwanja wa Taifa}} | logo_image = | image = Tanzania_National_Main_Stadium_Aerial.jpg | caption = Aerial view of the stadium | pushpin_relief = yes | pushpin_map = Tanzania | pushpin_map_caption = Location in east Tanzania. | address = Taifa Road | location = Miburani, Temeke District, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | coordinates = {{coord|-6.853563|39.273821|region:TZ_type:landmark|display=inline,title}} | type = Multi-purpose stadium | broke_ground = 2005<ref name = "bbc"/> | built = 2005-2007 | opened = 2007<ref name = "bbc">{{cite web |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/6905112.stm |title=Tanzania's new stadium ready |last1=Muga |first1= Emmanuel |date=18 July 2007 |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=26 January 2015}}</ref> | owner = Tanzanian Government | operator = Tanzania Football Federation | surface = GrassMaster | scoreboard = Yes | cost = $56 million | architect = WMS Architects {{small|(South Africa)}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wmsarchitects.co.za/portfolio/leisure-and-sport/dar-es-salaam-national-stadium/ |title=Dar Es Salaam National Stadium – 75000 Seats |publisher=WMS Architects |access-date=13 April 2015 |archive-date=19 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230419200319/http://www.wmsarchitects.co.za/portfolio/leisure-and-sport/dar-es-salaam-national-stadium/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> | project_manager = | structural_engineer = | services_engineer = | general_contractor = | main_contractors = Beijing Construction Engineering Group | seating_type = | capacity = 60,000<ref>{{cite web |title=Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium: Tanzania’s Giant Stage for CHAN 2024 |url=https://www.cafonline.com/caf-african-nations-championship/stadiums/ |publisher=Confédération Africaine de Football |access-date=30 May 2026 |quote=With a seating capacity of 60,000}}</ref> | suites = | record_attendance = 70,000 (Young Africans vs Simba, 26 October 2008) | dimensions = 105 × 68 m | field_shape = | acreage = | volume = | tenants = Tanzania national football team (2007–present)<br />Simba S.C. (2007–present)<br />Young Africans S.C. (2007–present) | embedded = | website = {{URL|http://www.habari.go.tz/}} | public_transit = Kurasini Station {{small|(4 km)}} }}

'''Benjamin Mkapa Stadium''' also known as '''Tanzania National Main Stadium''' is a multi-purpose stadium located in Miburani ward of Temeke District in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. It opened in 2007 and was built adjacent to Uhuru Stadium, the former national stadium. It hosts major football matches such as the Tanzanian Premier League and home matches of the Tanzania national football team. It is intended to be used during the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations soccer tournament.

With 60,000 seats it is amongst the 20 largest stadiums in Africa and the largest stadium in Tanzania. It is owned by the Tanzanian Government. The stadium was built by Beijing Construction Engineering Group at a cost of $56 million.

A capacity crowd attended the first derby between Simba and Young Africans at the stadium in Dar es-Salaam 2008.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/7693750.stm|title = Tanzania football's domestic revival|date = 27 October 2008}}</ref> Both clubs mostly draw low attendances for their other league matches.

==History== In 2000, President Benjamin Mkapa promised to build a state of the art stadium before the end of his tenure in 2005; saying that it was shameful for the country not to have a modern arena.<ref name ="signing">{{cite web |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/3781405.stm |title=Stadium backing for Tanzania |last1=Muga |first1=Emmanuel |date=6 June 2004 |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=26 January 2015}}</ref> In January 2003, the government announced a tender for the construction of a new stadium to replace the dilapidated Uhuru Stadium. Sports Minister Juma Kapuya said that the government had set a budget of $60 million and eleven companies had bid for the project.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/2844395.stm |title=Tanzania build for the future |last1=Muga |first1=Emmanuel |date=12 March 2003 |work=BBC News |access-date=26 January 2015}}</ref>

In 2004, Vinci Construction, a French company won the tender with a bid of $154 million. Under pressure from the Bretton Woods Institutions, Tanzania reluctantly abandoned the project as it had received debt relief under the Highly Indebted Poor Countries Program. Deborah Brautigam in her book ''The Dragon's Gift: The Real Story of China in Africa'' writes, "To the Bretton Woods Institutions, building a modern stadium in a poor country with an annual per capita income of $330 seemed a bit like the Romans building a new Coliseum with the barbarians camped outside the city wall."<ref name="Brautigam2009">{{cite book|author=Deborah Brautigam|title=The Dragon's Gift: The Real Story of China in Africa|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X2g2rEMSdIYC&pg=PT102|date=19 November 2009|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-161976-2|pages=102–}}</ref>

In June 2004, Foreign Minister Jakaya Kikwete signed a $56 million contract with the Chinese Government,<ref name ="signing"/> who provided a grant of about $20 million.<ref name="Brautigam2009"/><ref name ="cost">{{cite web |url=http://dspace.africaportal.org/jspui/bitstream/123456789/32075/1/Tanzania-China.pdf?1 |title=Scoping Studies on China-Africa Economic Relations: The Case of Tanzania | format = PDF |last1=Moshi |first1=H.P.B. |last2=Mtui |first2=J.M. |date=March 2008 |website=dspace.africaportal.org |access-date=26 January 2015}}</ref> A Chinese Embassy official described it as a "special aid project".<ref name="Brautigam2009"/> Beijing Construction Engineering Group was awarded the contract.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bceg.com.cn/en/about/ehsz_51.html|title=BCEG in Tanzania|publisher=Beijing Construction Engineering Group|access-date=26 January 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150127011348/http://www.bceg.com.cn/en/about/ehsz_51.html|archive-date=27 January 2015}}</ref> The International Monetary Fund objected that the cost had not been included in the country's annual Public Expenditure Review to its major donors.<ref name="Brautigam2009"/>

In June 2006, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao paid a visit to the construction site.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-06/23/content_4740608.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150127011353/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-06/23/content_4740608.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 27, 2015 |title=Chinese, Tanzanian PMs inspect ultra-modern stadium site |date=23 June 2006 |publisher=Xinhuanet |access-date=26 January 2015}}</ref> The ''Daily News'' reported that Tanzania contributed TSh 25 billion of the total cost of TSh 56.4 billion.<ref>{{cite news |last=MTAMBALIKE |first=KILASA |date=24 June 2006 |title=Chinese Premier pleased with new stadium work |url=http://www.dailynews-tsn.com/news.php?id=1803/ |newspaper=Daily News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927230402/http://www.dailynews-tsn.com/news.php?id=1803%2F |archive-date=27 September 2007 |access-date=27 January 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In September 2007, the stadium hosted the Group 7 qualifying match between Taifa Stars and the Mozambican team for the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/6942297.stm |title=Dar es Salaam to host qualifier |last1=Muga |first1=Emmanuel |date=11 August 2007 |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=27 January 2015}}</ref> The stadium also hosted the first EPL team match in the African continent when Everton played Kenya's Gor Mahia on July 13, 2017.

It served as the end point for the 2008 Summer Olympics torch relay in Dar es Salaam. Tanzania was the torch's only stop on the African continent.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7345245.stm |title=Torch in peaceful Tanzania relay |date=13 April 2008 |work=BBC News |access-date=27 January 2015}}</ref> The stadium was inaugurated by Chinese President Hu Jintao and Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete during the former's state visit to Tanzania in February 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cctv.com/english/20090216/106161.shtml |title=Chinese president Hu visits stadium and cemetery for Chinese nationals |date= 16 February 2009 |publisher=China Central Television |access-date=27 January 2015}}</ref>

Following the 2011 Dar es Salaam explosions at an army base, at least 4,000 people sought shelter at the stadium.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12490089 |title= Tanzania blasts: At least 20 dead in Dar es Salaam |date=17 February 2011 |work=BBC News |access-date=27 January 2015}}</ref> China formally handed over the Phase I of the complex in July 2013.<ref name ="phaseI">{{cite news |date=4 July 2013 |title=National Stadium Handed Over |url=http://archive.dailynews.co.tz/index.php/sport/19436-national-stadium-handed-over |newspaper=Daily News |access-date=27 January 2015 |archive-date=27 January 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150127014713/http://archive.dailynews.co.tz/index.php/sport/19436-national-stadium-handed-over |url-status=dead }}</ref> The stadium has hosted friendly matches with notable teams across the world such as the Brazil national football team, Everton and Sevilla.

In 2024, the stadium underwent renovation which primarily sought to replace the 60,000 seats.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arusha's new stadium plans align with Benjamin Mkapa Stadium renovation {{!}} The Guardian |url=https://www.ippmedia.com/the-guardian/sports/read/arushas-new-stadium-plans-align-with-benjamin-mkapa-stadium-renovation-2024-03-14-145611 |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=www.ippmedia.com}}</ref>

==Stadium== It has five main entrances, a car park for 600 vehicles, 114 closed-circuit television cameras, a VIP lounge and an extendable roof.<ref name = "bbc"/>

The pitch size, as lined for association football, is 105m long by 68 metres wide.

In late July 2020, the stadium was renamed after the late former president Benjamin Mkapa.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thecitizen.co.tz/news/Sports/Magufuli-renames-National-stadium-after-Benjamin-Mkapa/1840572-5600262-14p7qm9z/index.html|title=Magufuli renames National stadium after Benjamin Mkapa|work=The Citizen|date=July 28, 2020}}</ref>

==Future expansion== Phase Two of the project will entail the construction of an indoor stadium, warm-up ground and a sports village/college.<ref name ="phaseI"/>

==Average attendances==

{{row counter|{| class{{=}}"wikitable sortable" !Tenants!!League season!!Home games!!Average attendance<ref>https://dailynews.co.tz/simba-lead-revenue-yanga-dominate-attendance/</ref> |- | Simba SC || 2023-24 || 15 || 7,514 |- | Young Africans || 2023-24 || 15 || 9,460 |- |} }}

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

==External links== {{Sister project links |q=no | wikt=no | b=no | n=no |s=no | v=no | voy=no | species=no |d=Q850225 | display=Tanzania National Main Stadium}} *[https://cafe.daum.net/stade/Dlwn/23 Photos] at [https://cafe.daum.net/stade/ cafe.daum.net/stade] * [https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/6917152.stm Have your say], BBC * {{YouTube|QPHrA8GxrgI|Tanzania vs Kenya Stadia comparison}} * [http://escholarship.org/uc/item/4z08x0ns Tanzania's New National Stadium and the Rhetoric of Development] by Steve Sortijas

Tanzania Category:Football venues in Tanzania Category:Athletics venues in Tanzania Category:Sports venues completed in 2007 Category:Sport in Dar es Salaam Category:Multi-purpose stadiums in Tanzania Category:Buildings and structures in Dar es Salaam Category:China–Tanzania relations Category:Chinese aid to Africa Category:2007 establishments in Tanzania Category:Simba S.C.