The Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, located in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, has undergone a significant renovation.The renovation was undertaken for several key reasons. Since its completion in 2007, the stadium had not undergone a major renovation. Specific components required updating, such as the seats, which were due for replacement after 10 years, and the athletics track, which needed renovation since 2012. Other areas requiring upgrade included the toilet systems, outdated lighting systems, fire and rescue equipment, and IT infrastructure to ensure the stadium maintained its status as a premier venue in East and Central Africa.
A primary driver for the renovation was to meet the conditions set by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to allow Tanzanian teams, particularly Simba SC, to participate in the new Super League competition. Without meeting these requirements, Tanzanian teams would not be permitted to participate. The renovation was announced at a time when CAF inspectors were expected to visit the country to assess the progress of the recommended improvements. The stadium was also chosen by CAF to host the opening match of the Super League, making the renovation crucial for presenting a positive image of Tanzania to football enthusiasts across Africa and globally.
The estimated cost of the renovation was announced by the government to be 31 billion Tanzanian shillings.
This cost was compared to the initial construction cost of the stadium, which was $56 million in 2007.
It was noted that if the stadium were built today, its cost would be approximately 137 billion Tanzanian shillings based on the current dollar value. Current estimates for building similar stadiums range from $100 million to $160 million (240 billion to 350 billion Tanzanian shillings).
The renovation cost was also compared to other stadium projects, such as the Amaan Stadium renovation in Zanzibar (15 billion shillings for 15,000 capacity) and Liverpool’s Anfield Road Stand renovation (estimated $97 million for adding 8,000 seats).
The funding for the renovation is a collaborative effort involving the government, CAF, and the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) through the Sports Development Fund; the government is not solely responsible for the entire cost.
While 31 billion shillings is a substantial amount, the renovation is considered economically beneficial when considering potential Super League prize money (winner receives $11.5 million, equivalent to about 28 billion shillings) and the guaranteed annual income for participating clubs (approximately 8 billion shillings per year for Simba SC). Furthermore, this renovation positions Tanzania favorably in its joint bid with Kenya and Uganda to host the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), ensuring the stadium meets CAF standards.
The renovation encompasses approximately 30 different areas and components within the stadium. These include player changing rooms, press rooms and areas, all stadium seats, the announcement system, a modern stadium screen, the VIP area, two new lifts, IT systems, toilet systems, the playing field (pitch), goals and nets, corner areas, the athletics track, the pitch watering system, the restaurant, the AC system, the electrical system, and a modern VAR system. Other areas being upgraded are the substitute and technical bench area, the distinguished guest area and rooms, internal stadium offices, the referee room, the gym area, all stadium lights (upgraded to modern LED lights), and the stadium entrance area. The renovation in 2024 primarily sought to replace the 60,000 seats.
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