A major redevelopment of Penrith Stadium, 55km west of Sydney's CBD, has been greenlit by the NSW government's Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure. According to a communique from Infrastructure NSW, the new Populous-designed stadium is "set to become a superior entertainment venue, improving the experience for fans and spectators."
The new venue will completely overhaul the city's existing stadium "with better seats and sightlines in new grandstands, more food outlets, amenities and recreation space, new scoreboards and ribbon boards, sound systems and lighting," the release reads.
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The upgraded venue is set to host up to ten concerts a year and will feature more food outlets and bathroom amenities, and new audio-visual systems and lighting. Image:
Courtesy of Infrastructure NSW
As part of the upgrade, the ground capacity will be increased from 22,500 to approximately 25,000 attendees with space for an additional 5,000 people during concerts, which the venue will host up to ten times per year. The stadium's existing east and west grandstands will be replaced with larger, steeper seating, which includes a 300 percent increase in accessible seating places. According to the release, the new grandstands are expected to deliver "premium views … boosting energy, sound and excitement for fans, teams and players."
The venue's bathrooms will see an 85 percent increase in accessible toilets and a substantial increase in women's toilets. Upgraded player amenities, especially those for women, are intended to support the growth of women's sport.
Populous director Al Baxter commented that the firm's design creates "a venue that will promote and support the continued growth of sports within the Western Sydney community."
"It will provide an exceptional visitor experience for sporting events, concerts and live entertainment," Baxter said.
Elsewhere in the precinct, new open spaces, multipurpose courts and improved landscaping will provide greater shade for entertainment and community use. While the central pitch and community greenspace on the north and south hills will remain, the training field to the west of the stadium will be remodelled into a warm-up field with community infrastructure and landscaping.
The project has been ongoing since 2022, with its concept first unveiled in January 2024 and its State Significant Development application on public exhibition from May to June. Feedback in response to submissions was addressed in August.
A building contract is expected to be awarded shortly, with work scheduled to begin early 2025. Completion is slated for 2026.
