Penrith Stadium will be undergoing a significant transformation after the end of the 2024 NRL season, as construction begins to make it into a premier sporting and entertainment venue.
The modern sporting and entertainment precinct within the Penrith CBD has been promised for the city by the Minns Labor government in last year’s state election.
The significant stadium upgrade set for completion in 2026 has been designed to improve the gameday experience for fans and players.
It is also set to attract visitors from far and wide, creating a superior venue for sports events, live music and entertainment.
“I am delighted to see the upgraded Penrith Stadium brought to life in these exciting new designs,” deputy premier and minister for Western Sydney Prue Car said.
“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.”
The redevelopment included a new western grandstand and significant changes to the eastern grandstand meant to increase the ground capacity for 25,000 more.
Grandstands have been reconfigured to maximise seating with premium views between the try lines to be steeper to bring fans closer to the action.
“When complete, Penrith Stadium will be a first-class sporting and entertainment venue for everyone to enjoy,” sports minister Steve Kamper said.
Penrith MP Karen McKeown said they must “thank the 3,000 fans and families who provided their input to the design process.”
“I, along with every fan of sport, am so excited to see that the iconic hills at either end of the ground have been saved,” she said.
There will be new scoreboards, sound systems and upgraded lighting as shown in the artist’s impression when the stadium is hosting live entertainment at night.
New player facilities including four new changerooms will help grow female representation in rugby league and other sporting codes.
According to the design, the hills at the northern and southern end of the playing field will be retained, reflecting feedback from over 3,000 fans, families and community members whose input was acknowledged by Ms McKeown, a former Penrith mayor and currently serving as a councillor.
The training field to the west of the stadium will be remodelled to create a stadium precinct with quality open space for outdoor community, sporting and entertainment events.
The project is expected to boost for Western Sydney’s local economy with jobs during the construction phase and one operational.
Once completed, Venues NSW will operate the stadium, in addition to its management of Accor Stadium, the SCG, Allianz Stadium, McDonald Jones Stadium, WIN Stadium and CommBank Stadium.
For more details, visit https://www.infrastructure.nsw.gov.au/penrith-stadium-refurbishment.
