Optus Stadium is one of the most spectacular sporting and entertainment venues in the world. Optus Stadium, Perth, Western Australia This iconic stadium located in the Burswood suburb of Perth has been setting new standards for a modern multi-purpose arena since opening its doors in January 2018 with world-leading design, technology and fan experience. Friends Stays Oct 21, 23:04Whether you’re an AFL fanatic, a cricket buff or music fan or simply just have the curiosity of a visitor (which you are!)Optus Stadium has something great for everybody This ultimate guide covers everything you need to know about Optus Stadium the history, design, capacity, events, facilities & transport plus much more!
History and Background of Optus Stadium
The Optus Stadium story starts long before ground was broken. The Western Australian Government had identified the need for a new large-capacity ground to supersede aging venues like Subiaco Oval and the WACA Ground many years prior. Talk of a new stadium had emerged in the early 2000s, with the Government announcing in June that year that the Burswood Peninsula would be selected as preferred site.
Optus Stadium was built by a public-private partnership in late 2014. The project was built by a consortium led by builder Multiplex with architects HASSELL, Cox Architecture and HKS Architects in partnership. The project was completed in record time, the venue opening by the end of 2017. On 21 January 2018, Optus Stadium hosted public tours as part of a well-attended community open day prior to its official opening.
In a 10-year deal worth an estimated $50 million, Australia’s second largest telecommunications company Optus secured the naming rights for the venue. That’s why the venue is popularly known as Optus Stadium, although for international cricket it’s prosaically Perth Stadium on account of contractual obligations with Cricket Australia.
Key Facts and Figures
Optus Stadium at a glance – the key facts in the table below:
| Detail | Information |
| Official Name | Optus Stadium (Perth Stadium for cricket) |
| Location | 333 Victoria Park Drive, Burswood WA 6100 |
| Suburb | Burswood, Perth, Western Australia |
| Opened | 21 January 2018 |
| Capacity (Standard) | 60,000 – 61,266 seats |
| Capacity (Rectangular Sports) | Up to 65,000 seats |
| Capacity (Concerts) | Up to 70,000 (combined seating & standing) |
| Construction Cost | Approximately AUD $1.6 billion (total project) |
| Builder | Multiplex (WESTADIUM Consortium) |
| Architects | HASSELL + Cox Architecture + HKS Architects |
| Owner | Government of Western Australia |
| Naming Rights Sponsor | Optus (10-year deal, ~$50 million) |
| Rank in Australia | 3rd largest stadium (behind MCG and Stadium Australia) |
| Field Dimensions | 165m x 130m (boundary to boundary) |
| Record Crowd | 62,622 (Ed Sheeran concert, first ever at the venue) |
| Record Sporting Crowd | 61,241 (2019 Bledisloe Cup, Wallabies vs All Blacks) |
| Primary Sports | AFL, Cricket, Rugby Union, Rugby League, Soccer |
| Home Teams | West Coast Eagles, Fremantle Dockers (AFL), Perth Scorchers (BBL) |
Architecture and Design of Optus Stadium
Optus Stadium is perhaps best known for the quality of its design. It was not merely utilitarian, but simply beautiful; a place created through an architectural collaboration between HASSELL, Cox Architecture and HKS Architects. Optus Stadium won the Most Beautiful Stadium in the World award – at Prix Versailles, the prestigious World Architecture and Design Awards held by UNESCO in Paris – back in 2019. Optus Stadium was announced the winner based on its exterior architecture, interior design, creativity and innovation in energy efficiency – very strong factors when competing against stadiums from all over the world.
This five-tiered stadium is draped with a textured bronze anodised aluminium facade. That such a design choice was meant to be after all, it’s designed to reflect the unique geology and landscape of Western Australia as it shines in the Perth sunlight during the daytime, becoming an animated dynamic light form at night with its integrated custom LED lighting system. Meanwhile, the roof is inspired by the swing arm of a Moto2 World Championship motorcycle and made from 50 steel trusses forming a lightweight membrane canopy. Around 85% of all permanent seats are covered so that fans at least can escape Perth’s sometimes searing heat and torrential rain.
While Optus Stadium’s oval shape is in line with tradition, the steep bowl-style seating guarantees that every seat – from front row, through the back — will deliver excellent sightlines to the pitch. With a field size of 165 metres x 130 metres closely matching that of the MCG in Melbourne; Optus Stadium should instantly familiarise itself to AFL fans.
Optus Stadium also reflects significant cultural traditions. An artwork that is woven into the fabric of the stadium and its parklands acknowledges the traditional landowners, with more than one hundred-and-fifty ancestral homes of Indigenous language groups also recognised.
One of the most recent additions to Optus Stadium was VERTIGO, a 42-metre high viewing platform on the western side of the stadium that added five metres around for its roof which opened in early 2022. The visitors can lean out over the field of play or look towards the Perth city skyline, wit direct lift access ensuring accessibility. VERTIGO also offers guided activities including abseiling.
Capacity and Seating at Optus Stadium
Capacity flexibility that Optus Stadium provides is incredible on a side note:
| Mode | Capacity |
| Standard (AFL/Cricket) | 60,000 – 61,266 |
| Rectangular Sports (Rugby/Soccer) | Up to 65,000 |
| Concert Mode (stage at centre of pitch) | Up to 70,000 |
| Potential Future Expansion | Up to 80,000 (with additional tiers) |
The site boasts 84 suites and 18 different premium seating areas, making it particularly appealing for corporate and business events. Issuances of tickets are limited to 777 seats specifically reserved for the disabled, including 450 wheelchair-accessible spots over three levels. Optus Stadium became the first stadium in Australia to have mobility toilets for fans with a disability. The sensory space can fit 16 patrons as well as features soft lighting, bean bags, sensory toys and private booths near aisle 149 for those with sensitivities to crowds.
1,000 IPTV screens over five levels, two huge 340-square-metre video screens (the largest in Australia at time of opening) and a stadium-wide wi-fi network keep fans connected during every event.
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Sports Hosted at Optus Stadium
In addition, Optus Stadium is a truly multi-purpose venue with one of the richest sporting calendars in this country.
Australian Rules Football (AFL)
The key tenants of Optus Stadium include the Australian Football League teams West Coast Eagles and Fremantle Dockers. Both clubs moved from Subiaco Oval to Optus Stadium before the 2018 AFL season. Those changerooms Eagles in the north-east and Dockers in the north-west showcase the close association of the stadium with its teams.
Optus Stadium’s largest AFL memory came when the AFL Grand Final was forced to move from Melbourne to Perth in 2021 due to COVID-19 lockdowns across Victoria. The first AFL Grand Final ever held in Western Australia saw 61,118 watch Melbourne triumph over the Western Bulldogs in a nail-biting decider. The 2022 AFL Grand Final was also held at Optus Stadium.
Cricket
Officially Perth Stadium, for international cricket Designed to mimic the characteristics of the well-known WACA wicket, Optus Stadium has five drop-in cricket wickets, as well as indoor practice facilities and dedicated player viewing rooms. Fence-to-fence, the stadium measures 177m x 141m and will host a minimum of 55,000 fans for cricket events. Optus Stadium is also home to the Perth Scorchers of the Big Bash League (BBL).
Rugby Union
Of course, some exhilarating rugby union action has also taken place at Optus Stadium over the years. The highest sporting attendance for the venue 61241 was registered at the Bledisloe Cup clash between Australia and New Zealand in 2019. It has also hosted Test matches for the Wallabies against South Africa and England.
Rugby League
State of Origin drama has come to Optus Stadium, treating Perth fans to a taste of the code’s most fiery rivalry in front of big crowds.
Soccer / Football
Optus Stadium was the venue for the 2019 A-League Grand Final, and has hosted international football friendlies such as matches between European clubs Chelsea and Juventus due to International Festival of Football.
WWE
Optus Stadium hosted the first WWE event in Australia since 2018, the February 2024 WWE Elimination Chamber. It was the largest-ever WWE event in the Asia-Pacific region with an attendance of 52,590 in 2024.
Major Concerts and Entertainment at Optus Stadium
Away from sport, Optus Stadium has quickly become one of Australia’s prime concert destinations. Below are some of the biggest acts that have played at this venue:
| Year | Artist / Event |
| 2019 | U2, Eminem |
| 2020 | Queen (planned pre-COVID) |
| 2022 | Guns N’ Roses |
| 2023 | Ed Sheeran, Coldplay, Red Hot Chili Peppers |
| 2024 | Pink, WWE Elimination Chamber |
Optus Stadium’s biggest ever attendance of 62,622 was set when Ed Sheeran performed at the venue. Like a maximum 70,000 if the stage was set in the middle of the pitch, but other configurations could see it be slightly different depending on if it ended up in one of the eastern or northern stands.
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Facilities and Fan Experience at Optus Stadium
That “fans first” philosophy underpinning the design of Optus Stadium is much broader than spec, sightlines and every seat a good one. It features a 360-degree lower concourse, which allows fans to move freely all the way around the ground and obtain views of the playing surface from all angles. The list includes more than 1,500 toilets located throughout the venue one of the most generous toilet-to-fan ratios among any stadium worldwide.
Optus Stadium has a tempting providing of food and beverages. The venue is also ideal for corporate functions, gala dinners, school balls, trade shows and conferences thanks to the City View Café, River View Rooms (holding up to 1,200 guests in panoramic river-facing spaces) and more than 20 function spaces.
Stadium Park, a 30-hectare public precinct that offers year-round recreation, including on non-event days. It boasts natural playgrounds, barbeque areas, fitness sites, bike and walking trails, public art commemorating traditional Aboriginal culture, a 4ha amphitheatre (for up to 1000 people) and unimpeded views of both the Swan River plus Perth’s skyline.
Transport and Getting to Optus Stadium
This game will be played at Optus Stadium (333 Victoria Park Drive, Burswood), about 5km east from the Perth CBD.
| Transport Option | Details |
| Train | Perth Stadium Station – six platforms, direct access via Joondalup, Fremantle, and Armadale lines |
| Bus | Event-specific routes; Red CAT service from West Perth and Perth CBD via Matagarup Bridge |
| Walking / Cycling | Pedestrian and cycle paths from the CBD across Matagarup Bridge |
| Car / Parking | No public parking on event days; park-and-ride options available |
| Nearby Hotel | Crown Towers, Crown Promenade, Crown Metropole Perth |
One of the most efficient venue transit systems in Australia, Perth Stadium train station has completely separated concourses for each line allowing 30,000 patrons to exit a sold-out match into parallel standing areas with minimum delay. On-site parking has been kept to a minimum by design – with the intention of getting people using public transport.
Awards and Recognition
Not only did Optus Stadium win an impressive tally of awards in such a short time, to help establish it as a world-class venue:
| Year | Award |
| 2018 | Australian Construction Achievement Award |
| 2018 | Australian Institute of Architects – National Award, Public Architecture |
| 2018 | The Stadium Business Design and Development Awards – Project of the Year |
| 2018 | Master Builders Association – National Commercial Master Builder of the Year |
| 2019 | Prix Versailles – Most Beautiful Stadium in the World |
| 2019 | IOC IAKS Architecture Prize – Silver |
| 2019 | Good Design Award – Gold, Architectural Design |
| 2019–2025 | Austadium Awards – Best Stadium in Australia (seven consecutive years) |
| 2022 | Venue of the Year |
Optus Stadium also claimed Australia’s Best Stadium for seven years in a row, taking 45% of all votes nationwide in the Austadium Awards 2024 and cementing its consistent excellence and fan appeal.
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Indigenous Heritage and Community Integration
A deep engagement with the traditional custodians of the land, the Whadjuk Noongar people is one of the most important aspects to Optus Stadium’s design. Designed in-conjunction with representatives from the local Indigenous community, careful consideration has been given to ensuring the stadium parklands are representative of Western Heritage and its Aboriginal culture. Optus Stadium has also been transformed from a sporting arena into a cultural landmark, incorporating artworks that reference the ancestral homes of more than 150 Indigenous language communities throughout the venue.
Stadium Park, surrounds Stadium Park which gave the land a much-needed redevelopment from derelict wasteland into a lively public green space that opens up the city to not only its ecological history with the Swan River but also reconnects culture.
Frequently Asked Questions About Optus Stadium
1. What is the seating capacity of Optus Stadium?
Optus Stadium has a normal capacity of 60,000 to 61,266 (actual) expandable up to 65,000 cocktail-style for rectangular sports such as rugby and soccer, and up to 70,000 when the stage is set at the middle of the playing field for concerts.
2. When did Optus Stadium officially open?
A public community open day, introduced alongside its official opening, officially opened Optus Stadium on 21 January 2018. The arena was delivered ahead of time: the 42-strong WESTADIUM consortium led by Multiplex completed the project well ahead of its September deadline.
3. Which teams are based at Optus Stadium?
Optus Stadium serves as the permanent home of West Coast Eagles and Fremantle Dockers (both AFL) and the Perth Scorchers (Big Bash League cricket team).
4. How do I get to Optus Stadium?
Trains are the premier way to get to Optus Stadium, with Perth Stadium Station serviced by the Joondalup, Fremantle and Armadale lines. There are bus services for events as well, and pedestrian and cycling paths cross the Matagarup Bridge from the Perth CBD. Please note there is no public parking at Optus Stadium on event days.
5. What is the record attendance at Optus Stadium?
The highest recorded attendance at Optus Stadium is 62,622 during an Ed Sheeran concert. The 61,241 is the record, set during the 2019 Bledisloe Cup rugby union game between Australia and New Zealand.
6. Has Optus Stadium won any international awards?
Yes. At the international Prix Versailles World Architecture and Design Awards in Paris at UNESCO in 2019, Optus Stadium has been awarded Most Beautiful Stadium In The World. Also seven years in a row (2019–2025) winner of Australia’s Best Stadium in the Austadium Awards.
7. Can I visit Optus Stadium on a non-event day?
Yes. The rest of Stadium Park is open all year round, and features several playgrounds, picnic spots, cycleways and walking tracks in addition to public art. On non-event days, the VERTIGO rooftop viewing platform and stadium tours offer unrivaled behind-the-scenes glimpses of Optus Stadium as well as sweeping views over Perth and the Swan River.
Conclusion
Optus Stadium is so much more than a sporting ground it is a 21st century architectural landmark, the centre of community life and an expression of Western Australian culture and identity. With its world-beating design and cutting-edge facilities to its astonishing track record of incredible historic sporting moments and international entertainment acts, Optus Stadium has rightfully earned a reputation as one of the best venues on Earth. Whether it be the West Coast Eagles pursuit for an AFL flag, Perth Scorchers featuring under BBL lights or singing along with your favourite artists, Optus Stadium continues to provide a world-class experience. In the simplest terms, it is WA’s biggest sporting and cultural export to the globe and every trip to Optus Stadium brings some form of memory.