Free State Stadium, Sports stadium in Bloemfontein, South Africa
Free State Stadium is a sports venue in Bloemfontein designed to hold around 45,000 spectators in both covered and open seating areas. The facility features modern display boards, multiple entrance points, and various sections for different types of spectators.
The stadium opened in 1952 and served as a venue for important sporting events in the region for decades. It underwent major changes in 2009 to prepare the facility for an international tournament held in 2010.
The stadium's name comes from the Free State province, and its Afrikaans form is Vrystaatstadion. The main rugby tenants are the Free State Cheetahs, who play in the Currie Cup; the Cheetahs side also represented the Free State and Northern Cape in the Pro14. Bloemfontein Celtic, the football tenant until their sale before the 2021–22 South African Premiership, also played here.
The stadium sits in Bloemfontein, Free State, and is reached via entrances around its perimeter; the western main grandstand carries the added second tier built for 2010. It was downgraded to Class C in 2025, barring international rugby, then restored to Class B after an upgrade completed in February 2026. Check the current fixture list before travelling, since rugby and football use it at different times.
In 2025 the stadium was downgraded to Class C status, barring it from hosting international rugby; an upgrade finished in February 2026 restored Class B status and international eligibility. The 2010 World Cup works added a second tier to the western grandstand, lifting net capacity from 36,538 to 40,911.
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