Draft plans released for $304m Penrith Stadium redevelopment

Draft plans have been unveiled for the new Penrith Stadium that will transform the precinct into a modern sporting and entertainment venue. 

The New South Wales Government is investing $309 million towards the redevelopment of Penrith Stadium, as part of its election commitment, and the release of draft plans marks the first step in delivering on that promise. 

The vital stadium upgrade is designed to improve game day experience for fans and players while attracting a wide range of visitors and creating a superior venue for sporting events, live music and entertainment. 

“I am delighted to see the upgraded Penrith Stadium brough to life in these exciting new designs. 

“This is a very welcome upgrade to a stadium that has been well loved by the passionate Western Sydney community. 

“I cannot wait to see the seats filled as fans come roaring in to enjoy Panthers’ games in the upgraded stadium,” Deputy Premier and Minister for Western Sydney Prue Car said. 

Key features of the redevelopment include: 

• A brand-new west stand with improved safety, sight lines and spectator facilities 
• Significant refurbishments to the east stand with new seating and toilet facilities 
• More food and beverage outlets and amenities to improve customer experience and speed of service 
• New scoreboards, sound systems, ribbon boards and lighting 
• New secure entries and turnstiles to improve security and flow in and out of events 
• Increased ground capacity of around 25,000 and grandstands re-designed to be steeper, so fans are closer to the action and have better sightlines to the field 
• Improved player facilities for both men’s and women’s sports 
• Retention of the stadium’s unique identity and links to community, history and location 
• A family-friendly environment that preserves the north and south hills and the current warm and welcoming atmosphere 
• Quality open space for fan activations at sport and entertainment events 

New player facilities delivered through this project include four new change rooms that will help grow female representation un rugby league as well as other sporting codes. 

“When complete, Penrith Stadium will be a first-class sporting and entertainment venue for everyone to enjoy. 

“The upgraded stadium will be the new beating heart of Penrith, attracting visitors from far and wide, providing a boost to the local economy and building upon the already strong entertainment and sporting culture in Western Sydney. 

“Whilst this stadium will be purpose-built to host women’s and men’s NRL games, it will also cater for rugby union, soccer, live music and other entertainment events,” Minister for Sport and Minister for Small Business Steve Kamper said. 

This redevelopment will provide a significant boost for Western Sydney, and it will support local jobs during its construction and operation. 

The stadium design, which the community was actively involved in shaping, will be placed on exhibition for public feedback in the coming months. This will be carried out as part of a State Significant Development Application process. 

The Penrith Stadium is expected to close after the 2024 NRL season to make way for construction, with the stadium set to re-open in 2026. Construction timeframes are still subject to planning and procurement processes. 

Once completed, the upgraded Penrith Stadium is going to be operated by Venues NSW which has a strong track record in successfully operating similar venues across the State – including Accor Stadium, the SCG, Allianz Stadium, McDonald Jones Stadium, WIN Stadium and CommBank Stadium. 

“I’d like to thank the 3,000 fans and families who provided their input to the design process, and I – along with every fan of Western Sydney sport – am so excited to see that the iconic hills at either end of the ground have been saved. 

“As Penrith continues to grow, the new Penrith Stadium precinct will be an active hub that the whole community can enjoy,” Member for Penrith Karen McKeown said. 

Source: NSW Government – Media Releases; Infrastructure NSW (1, 2); Roads & Infrastructure Australia