PSL approves name change of Orlando Pirates stadium
· The South African
Orlando Pirates will officially play their home matches at the Orlando Amstel Arena during the 2026/27 season after the Premier Soccer League (PSL) approved the venue’s name change.
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The Buccaneers announced the rebranding of their iconic Soweto home from Orlando Stadium to Orlando Amstel Arena in January 2026 as part of a sponsorship agreement.
The sponsorship deal is a reported R280 million over three years.
However, despite the venue undergoing branding changes, Orlando Pirates were required to continue using the Orlando Stadium name for the remainder of the 2025/26 campaign because the PSL had not yet formally approved the change.
New name appears on fixture list
The approval has now been confirmed following the release of the PSL’s draft fixtures for the new season, with the venue listed as Orlando Amstel Arena.
Orlando Pirates are scheduled to kick off the defence of their Betway Premiership title against newly promoted Milford FC on Saturday, 1 August, with the match set to be the first league fixture played under the stadium’s new official name.
Key dates for the 2026/27 season
The PSL’s draft calendar also outlines several important dates for the new campaign:
- 1 August 2026: Betway Premiership season kicks off
- 7-9 August 2026: MTN8 quarter-finals
- 10 October 2026: MTN8 final
- 12 December 2026: Carling Knockout final
- 1 May 2027: Nedbank Cup final
- 22 May 2027: Final round of Betway Premiership fixtures
Orlando Pirates, who have won the last four editions of the MTN8, will begin their title defence against Durban City.
Meanwhile, in terms of dates for the upcoming season’s Soweto derbies, Orlando Pirates will host Kaizer Chiefs on Saturday, 31 October 2026 while Kaizer Chiefs will welcome Orlando Pirates in the return clash on Saturday, 13 March 2027.
Both fixtures will be played at FNB Stadium.