Stadium Australia

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Stadium Australia
Accor Stadium
Accor Stadium logo.png
2022 NRLGF stadium.jpg
The stadium during the 2022 NRL Grand Final
Stadium Australia
Former namesSydney Olympic Stadium (1999–2001)
Stadium Australia (2001-2002, 2020–2021)
Telstra Stadium (2002–2007)
ANZ Stadium (2008–2020)
Location Sydney Olympic Park, New South Wales, Australia (Map)
Coordinates 33°50′50″S151°03′47″E / 33.84722°S 151.06306°E / -33.84722; 151.06306
Public transit TfNSW T.svg Olympic Park TfNSW B.svg Special event buses
Owner Venues NSW via Government of New South Wales
OperatorVenuesLive Management Services
Capacity 82,000 (Rectangular) [1]
81,500 (Oval)
115,000 (2000 Summer Olympics)
Record attendance114,714: 2000 Olympics closing ceremony
Field size160 m × 118 m (525 ft × 387 ft) [2]
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Broke ground12 September 1996;28 years ago (1996-09-12)
Opened6 March 1999;25 years ago (1999-03-06)
Construction cost A$690 million [3]
Architect HOK Sport
Tenants
Rugby league

New South Wales Blues (State of Origin; 1999–present)
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (NRL; 1999–present)
South Sydney Rabbitohs (NRL; 2006–present)
St George Illawarra Dragons (NRL; 2008, 2014–2017)
Wests Tigers (NRL; 2005–2008, 2014–2018)
Parramatta Eels (NRL; 2017–2019)

Contents

Rugby union

Australia national rugby union team (selected matches)

Association football

Western Sydney Wanderers (A-League; 2016–2019)
Australia men's national soccer team (selected matches)
Australia women's national soccer team (selected matches)
Sydney FC (selected matches)

Cricket

New South Wales cricket team
Sydney Thunder (BBL; 2012–2015)

Australian rules football
GWS Giants (2012–2013; 2022–present)
Sydney Swans (2002–2015)
Website
accorstadium.com.au
Ground information
End names
Eastern End
Western End
International information
First T20I1 February 2012:
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia v Flag of India.svg  India
Last T20I9 November 2014:
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia v Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
First WT20I1 February 2012:
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia v Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
Last WT20I9 November 2014:
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia v WestIndiesCricketFlagPre1999.svg  West Indies
As of 12 August 2023
Source: Cricinfo

Stadium Australia, currently known as Accor Stadium for sponsorship reasons, is a multi-purpose stadium located in the suburb of Sydney Olympic Park, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The stadium, which is sometimes referred to as Sydney Olympic Stadium, Homebush Stadium or simply the Olympic Stadium, was completed in March 1999 at a cost of A$690 million [3] to host the 2000 Summer Olympics. [4] [5] The Stadium was leased by a private company, the Stadium Australia Group, until the Stadium was sold back to the NSW Government on 1 June 2016 after NSW Premier Michael Baird announced the Stadium was to be redeveloped as a world-class rectangular stadium. The Stadium is owned by Venues NSW on behalf of the NSW Government.

The stadium was originally built to hold circa 115,000 spectators, making it the largest Olympic Stadium ever built [6] and the second largest stadium in Australia after the Melbourne Cricket Ground which held more than 120,000 before its re-design in the early 2000s. In 2003, reconfiguration work was completed to shorten the north and south wings, and install movable seating. These changes reduced the capacity to 80,000, with the capacity to add seating depending on the venue configuration. Awnings were also added over the north and south stands, allowing most of the seating to be under cover. The stadium was engineered along sustainable lines, e.g., utilising less steel in the roof structure than the Olympic stadiums of Athens and Beijing. [7]

Naming rights

The stadium lacked a naming rights sponsor in its formative years, bearing the name Sydney Olympic Stadium between its opening in 1999 and 2001, it is then knows as Stadium Australia in 2001 and 2002. In 2002, telecommunications company Telstra acquired the naming rights, resulting in the stadium being known as Telstra Stadium. On 12 December 2007 it was announced by the Stadium Australia Group (SAG) that the stadium's name was to be changed to ANZ Stadium after concluding a deal with ANZ Bank worth around A$31.5 million over seven years. [8] This change took effect on 1 January 2008. In 2014, ANZ renewed the deal through to the end of 2017 and again until its closure for rebuilding in October 2019. [9]

In December 2020, ANZ's naming rights to the stadium expired and it reverted to being Stadium Australia. [10]

In November 2021, multinational hospitality company Accor acquired the rights, with the venue to be known as Accor Stadium. [11]

History

Early history

A rugby league match was the stadium's first event, and has since become the venue's predominant sport, hosting the annual NRL Grand Final since the 1999 edition (pictured). 1999 NRL Grand Final - Storm banner.jpg
A rugby league match was the stadium's first event, and has since become the venue's predominant sport, hosting the annual NRL Grand Final since the 1999 edition (pictured).

The first sporting event held at the stadium was on 6 March 1999 when a then-record rugby league football crowd of 104,583 watched the NRL first round double-header, featuring Newcastle v Manly and Parramatta v St George Illawarra Dragons. The attendance broke the old record of 102,569 set at the Odsal Stadium in Bradford, England for the Challenge Cup Final replay between Warrington and Halifax held on 5 May 1954.

The first musical act held at the newly built stadium was the Bee Gees, consisting of Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb, on 27 March 1999. The band had embarked on what would be their final world tour as a group before the death of Maurice, the tour ending in the newly built Olympic Stadium. The show was sold out with an attendance of 66,285. [12]

The stadium was not officially opened until 12 June 1999 when the Australian National Soccer team played the FIFA All Stars. Australia won the match 3–2 in front of a crowd of 88,101. Stadium Australia also played host to the national side's historic playoff win over Uruguay in November 2005, a victory which granted Australia FIFA World Cup qualification for only the second time in the country's history. The event attracted a virtual capacity crowd of 82,698.

The 1999 Bledisloe Cup rugby union match between Australia and New Zealand attracted a then-world record rugby union crowd of 107,042. In 2000, this was bettered when a near-capacity crowd of 109,874 (capacity at the time was 110,000) witnessed the "greatest ever rugby match" [13] when a Jonah Lomu try sealed an All Blacks win over the Wallabies 39–35. The All Blacks had led 24-0 after 11 minutes only to see Australia draw level at 24–24 by halftime.

An exhibition soccer match between the Australia national team and English club Manchester United was played on 18 July 1999. Manchester United defeated Australia 1–0 in front of 78,000 spectators.

On 9 June 1999, the stadium hosted its first State of Origin series game between New South Wales and Queensland. The match, Game 2 of the three-game series, saw the record Origin attendance in Sydney when 88,336 saw the Blues christen their new home with a 12–8 win. The attendance broke the Origin attendance record of 87,161 set at the Melbourne Cricket Ground for Game 2 of the 1994 series.

On 7 August 1999, a National Football League (American football) exhibition game called the American Bowl was played between the Denver Broncos and the San Diego Chargers, bringing home former Australian Football League player Darren Bennett, the Chargers' punter. The Broncos won the game 20–17 in front of 73,811 spectators. This was Australia's first, and currently only, American Bowl game.

The 1999 National Rugby League grand final, played on 26 September between the Melbourne Storm and the St George Illawarra Dragons, broke the rugby league world-record crowd previously set earlier in the season when 107,999 came to watch the Storm defeat the Dragons 20–18 to win their first NRL premiership.

During the 2000 Summer Olympics, the stadium primarily hosted track and field athletics events. Olympic flag, Australia.jpg
During the 2000 Summer Olympics, the stadium primarily hosted track and field athletics events.

During the 2000 Olympics, the evening athletics sessions on day 11 attracted 112,524 spectators on the night that Australia's Cathy Freeman won the Olympic Gold Medal for the Women's 400 metres. As of 2014, this remains the world record attendance for any athletics event. [14] Also during the Olympics, the soccer final attracted 104,098 to witness Cameroon defeat Spain for its first-ever Olympic gold medal. This was an Olympic Games football attendance record, breaking the record of 101,799 set at the Rose Bowl during the Gold medal game of the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

The opening ceremony for the 2000 Summer Olympics at the stadium completely sold out all 110,000 seats, while the highest attendance for any event in modern Olympic Games history was recorded with 114,714 at the stadium for the closing ceremony of the same Games. Musical acts for the closing ceremony were a "who's who" of Australian music including Kylie Minogue, John Williamson, John Paul Young, Jimmy Barnes, Midnight Oil, INXS (with Jon Stevens), Men at Work, and Slim Dusty who sang Waltzing Matilda . Also in attendance on stage during the Closing ceremony were other famous Australian's including golfer Greg Norman and comedian-actor Paul Hogan.The venue also hosted the same events during the 2000 Summer Paralympics.

Post-reconfiguration

The main entrance to the stadium Accor Stadium - IMG 6191.jpg
The main entrance to the stadium

The Sydney Swans v Collingwood Australian Football League (AFL) match at the Stadium on Saturday, 23 August 2003 set an attendance record for the largest crowd to watch an Australian rules football match outside Victoria with 72,393 spectators (87.7% capacity) attending and was the largest home-and-away AFL crowd at any Australian stadium for 2003. The attendance broke the record of 66,897 set at Football Park in Adelaide, South Australia on 28 September 1976 for the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) grand final between the Sturt and Port Adelaide Football Clubs.

2 October 2005 saw 82,453 attend the NRL grand final in which the Wests Tigers defeated the North Queensland Cowboys 30–16.

A play-off against Uruguay held at Stadium Australia concluded with a penalty shootout that saw John Aloisi kick the goal (pictured) that sent Australia to the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Aloisi penalty - The Moment.JPG
A play-off against Uruguay held at Stadium Australia concluded with a penalty shootout that saw John Aloisi kick the goal (pictured) that sent Australia to the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

16 November 2005 saw 82,698 attend the second leg of the Oceania-South America Qualification Playoff game for qualification to the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Australia defeated Uruguay 1–0, which led to a penalty shootout as Uruguay had won the first leg of the playoff 1–0. Australia won the shootout 4–2 and secured a spot in the World Cup for the first time since 1974. The penalty spot where John Aloisi's spot kick secured victory has been permanently preserved and is on public display at the stadium. [15]

On 1 October 2006, the stadium hosted the 2006 NRL Grand Final between the Brisbane Broncos and Melbourne Storm. It was the first time since the competition began in 1908 that two teams from outside of Sydney had contested the grand final. 79,609 fans saw the Broncos defeat the Storm 15–8. As of the 2018 NRL Grand Final, this is one of three times that no Sydney based team has contested the premiership decider and also the only time an NRL grand final at the Olympic Stadium has failed to attract at least 80,000 fans.

On 5 October 2008, the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles defeated the Melbourne Storm 40–0 in the 2008 NRL Grand Final in front of 80,388 fans. This is the record winning margin for a grand final, breaking the previous record of 38-0 when Eastern Suburbs defeated St George in the 1975 Grand Final played at the Sydney Cricket Ground. 2008 was the centenary year of the competition. It was also the first time a team had been held scoreless in a grand final since Manly had defeated Cronulla-Sutherland 16–0 in the 1978 Grand Final Replay at the SCG (the original Grand Final that year had been drawn 11-11).

An aerial view of the stadium Sydney Olympic Park (7373562696) (cropped).jpg
An aerial view of the stadium

In February 2009, the stadium replaced its existing two television screens with new Panasonic HD LED video screens that measure 23x10m – 70% larger than the original screens, and 50% larger than the screens in the Beijing National Stadium, whilst consuming less power than the old screens. Additionally, an LED perimeter screen showcasing ANZ advertising has been installed on the second level from the 30m line to the 30m line. [16]

25 September 2009 saw the largest ever NRL finals attendance (non-grand final) in competition history when 74,549 fans saw the Parramatta Eels defeat the Bulldogs RLFC 22–12 in the preliminary final of the 2009 NRL season. This beat the previous finals record of 57,973 set at the Sydney Cricket Ground for the preliminary final of the 1963 NSWRFL season which St George defeat Parramatta 12–7.

The stadium's first international cricket match, a Twenty20 International between Australia and India (pictured), took place in February 2012. ANZ Cricket.jpg
The stadium's first international cricket match, a Twenty20 International between Australia and India (pictured), took place in February 2012.

It hosted its first International Cricket match when Australia took on India in a Twenty20 night game on 1 February 2012. [17] The match attracted a crowd of 59,569 which remains the largest crowd ever for a cricket match in New South Wales.

30 September 2012 saw the largest ever NRL Grand Final crowd since reconfiguration up until 2014 when 82,976 attended the 2012 NRL Grand Final to see the Melbourne Storm defeat the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 14–4. This number was nearly reached in the 2009 NRL Grand Final between the Storm and the Parramatta Eels, with 82,538 in attendance. On 13 and 14 December 2010, a U2 concert, one of the biggest in history, was held at the ANZ Stadium.

On 6 July 2013 a new rectangle configuration record attendance of 83,702 watched the British & Irish Lions defeat Australia 41–16 to win the Tom Richards Cup series by 2–1.

The record set by the Wallabies test was broken just 10 days later on 17 July when 83,813 (only 187 short of capacity) attended Game 3 of the 2013 State of Origin series. Queensland defeated NSW 12–10 to win their 8th straight Origin series. With 80,380 attending Game 1 at the stadium, the attendances also broke the Origin attendance records for the first and third game of a series. With the second game of the series attracting 51,690 to Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium, 2013 also broke the Origin series attendance record with 215,883 attending the three games.

On 6 September 2013, the largest ever NRL minor round attendance for a single game at the stadium was set when 59,708 saw eventual 2013 Premiers the Sydney Roosters defeat South Sydney 24–12 in the final round of the 2013 NRL season. This was also the largest single game minor round crowd in the history of the premiership dating back to 1908, breaking the previous record set at the ANZ Stadium in Brisbane (now known as the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre) on 27 August 1993 when St George defeated Brisbane 16–10 in Round 22 of the 1993 NSWRL season in front of 58,593 fans.

On 18 June 2014, 83,421 fans saw NSW defeat Qld 6–4 in Game 2 of the 2014 State of Origin series. After having won Game 1 at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, the home side's win saw Queensland's eight year domination of Origin come to an end as New South Wales won their first series since 2005.

On 5 October 2014, a new post-reconfiguration attendance record of 83,833 saw South Sydney defeat Canterbury-Bankstown 30–6 in the 2014 NRL Grand Final. It was the Rabbitohs first grand final appearance and premiership win since 1971.

On 27 December 2014, a new domestic cricket record crowd for NSW was set with 32,823 attending the Sydney Derby between the Sydney Thunder and the Sydney Sixers. The crowd was the highest domestic cricket crowd in NSW history, only to be knocked off a few weeks later at the Sydney Cricket Ground involving the same two teams.

History was repeated on 4 October 2015 when for only the second time in the NRL's history, no NSW team was in the grand final and for the first time ever, it was a Queensland derby in the final between Brisbane and North Queensland. 82,758 people, many of whom had travelled down from various parts of Queensland, witnessed one of the all-time great grand finals when the game went into golden point time courtesy of a Kyle Feldt try in the dying moments to level the scores at 16 all. But the game would be remembered for Ben Hunt's dropped ball from the kick-off to extra time which led to Johnathan Thurston's field goal that gave North Queensland their first premiership in the NRL since being admitted into the competition in 1995. Apart from games involving national teams, the crowd is the largest ever in NSW not to involve a team based in the state.

On 30 September 2018, the Grand Final between the Sydney Roosters and the Melbourne Storm featured one of the most courageous performances in Australian sporting history when Cooper Cronk, despite carrying a severe shoulder injury from the week before, played for nearly the entire match, inspiring his Roosters to a famous 21–6 victory over his former club and at the same time denying the Storm back to back premierships.

On 6 October 2019, another notable NRL Grand Final was held with 82,922 people witnessing the Sydney Roosters become the first back to back premiers in the NRL since the Brisbane Broncos of 1992 and 1993, defeating the Canberra Raiders who were in their first Grand Final since 1994 in controversial circumstances. During the 2nd half with 10 minutes to go with scores locked at 8 all, referee Ben Cummins initially gave Canberra a new set of six tackles after he thought a Roosters player touched the ball, but then retracted the call as Canberra's Jack Wighton was tackled with the ball and ordered a handover to the Roosters with James Tedesco scoring the winning try for the Roosters shortly after the handover to win 14–8. [18] [19]

Development

Homebush stadium.jpg
ANZ Stadium, Essendon (cropped).jpg
Following the Olympics, the north and south wing stands were replaced with roofs. The ability to retract the stands to accommodate Australian rules football and cricket matches was also added.

In October 2001, major reconfiguration work on the stadium was commenced to allow for sports that require an oval field, such as cricket and Australian rules football, to be played at the ground. The two wing stands and the athletics track were removed; they were replaced with a movable seating section. New roofs were built over the two ends and seats that had a poor view of the field were removed. The reconfiguration reduced the capacity to 84,000 for the rectangular field and 82,500 for the oval field at a total cost of $80 million. The construction work was carried out by Multiplex. [20]

The reconfiguration work was completed in October 2003 in time for the 2003 Rugby World Cup where the then Telstra Stadium hosted the opening game, two other groups games, both semi-finals, the third-place play-off and final matches of the competition. In the first semi-final on 15 November 2003, Australia beat New Zealand 22–10 and then in the second semi-final the following day England beat France 24–7. In the final, on 22 November, England beat Australia 20–17 in extra time.

In 2022, a new scoreboard was installed at the southern end of the stadium, measuring 120 metres wide. [21] Also in 2022, the stadium lighting was replaced with new LED sports lights and were first used in Game One of the 2022 State of Origin series. [22]

In 2023, upgrades of the match day change rooms and media facilities were completed at a cost of $81.4 million ahead of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup and were first used for a NRL game between South Sydney and Manly Warringah on 25 March 2023. [23]

Proposed renovations

In September 2015, the New South Wales Government announced it intended to upgrade the stadium within the next decade, and install a retractable roof over the stadium. [24] [25]

On 23 November 2017, the New South Wales Government revealed that Stadium Australia would be knocked down and completely re-built, with a new 75,000 seat rectangular stadium built in its place. The announcement was made in conjunction with the unveiling of rebuilding plans for the Sydney Football Stadium in Moore Park. The original plan for Stadium Australia was for the demolition to start in 2019 and the new stadium to be completed by 2021.

On 29 March 2018 NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian backflipped on the rebuilding plan, and revealed the government would instead refurbish Stadium Australia and reconfigure the pitch dimensions to a permanently rectangular shape. This would come at a cost of $800 million, compared to the knock-down and rebuild cost of $1.3 billion. [26]

On 31 May 2020, the renovation plans were cancelled by the government, who pointed to a shift in budget priorities as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. [27] The decision meant the stadium remained capable of hosting oval-shaped sports such as cricket and Australian rules football, and retain its capacity to 83,500.

Uses

Various sporting codes have used this ground on a regular basis. The National Rugby League is the most regular tenant of the ground, while rugby union internationals, soccer internationals and Australian rules football are all played at the ground. ANZ Stadium hosts the following:

Rugby league

The stadium has hosted one of the three annual State of Origin games since the 1999 series. State of Origin Game II 2018.jpg
The stadium has hosted one of the three annual State of Origin games since the 1999 series.

Rugby union

Cricket

Soccer

As the largest capacity stadium in Australia that can be configured for rectangular field sports, high-profile Australia national soccer team (Socceroos) fixtures are often staged at the stadium. The stadium hosted Australia's 2005 shootout victory over Uruguay in the OFC-CONMEBOL intercontinental play-off, which qualified the Socceroos for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, their first appearance since 1974. Australia's extra time victory over South Korea in the 2015 AFC Asian Cup Final, which marked the Socceroos' first Asian Cup victory, also came at the stadium. Stadium Australia was also the venue for Australia's 3–1 victory against Honduras in the 2018 FIFA World Cup CONCACAF-AFC intercontinental play-off.

Stadium Australia held the second leg of the 2006 FIFA World Cup OFC-CONMEBOL intercontinental play-off, with John Aloisi scoring the decisive penalty to secure a 4-2 shootout victory. Final goal (64086975).jpg
Stadium Australia held the second leg of the 2006 FIFA World Cup OFC-CONMEBOL intercontinental play-off, with John Aloisi scoring the decisive penalty to secure a 4–2 shootout victory.

The venue hosted the 2000 Olympics football gold medal match, with Cameroon defeating Spain 5–3 on penalties. The match attracted a crowd of 104,098, which remains the highest-ever for an association football game in Australia.

Sydney FC have played a number of one-off exhibition matches at the stadium. Sydney FC defeated the Los Angeles Galaxy of MLS 5–3 in front of a crowd of 80,295 in 2007. The game was notable for including Galaxy legend and US international Landon Donovan and former England captain David Beckham, who had joined the Galaxy in 2007 and scored from a direct free kick during the game.

The local A-League teams, Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers, have also hosted a number of English Premier League teams. Chelsea defeated Sydney FC 1–0 in front of a crowd of 83,598 on 2 June 2015, the largest crowd for a soccer game at the stadium since the post-Olympics reconfiguration in 2002. Everton defeated Sydney FC 1–0 in front of a crowd of 40,466 in 2010. Tottenham Hotspur defeated Sydney FC 1–0 in front of a crowd of over 71,500 on 30 May 2015. The stadium hosted two exhibition matches in 2017: Liverpool defeated Sydney FC 3–0 in front of a crowd of 72,892 on 24 May 2017, while on 13 July 2017, Arsenal defeated Sydney FC 2–0 in front of a crowd of 80,432. Arsenal would play Western Sydney Wanderers in the stadium two days later, with the English side winning 3–1 in front of a crowd of 83,221.

The A-League All Stars have also played a number of one-off exhibition matches at the stadium. Premier League side Manchester United defeated the A-League All Stars 5-1 in front of a crowd of 83,127 on 20 July 2013. Italian Serie A side Juventus defeated the A-League All Stars 3-2 in front of a crowd of 55,364 on 10 August 2014. The game was also notable for Juventus legend Alessandro Del Piero, at the time with Sydney FC, playing against his old club for the first time. In 2022, the venue hosted FC Barcelona, who featured in a 3-2 victory against the All Stars.

Stadium Australia also hosts a smaller number of domestic A-League matches when the need arises. Sydney FC hosted an A-League home game on 9 January 2016 against Newcastle Jets at this ground. [32] Western Sydney Wanderers used the stadium as well as Sydney Showground Stadium as their home grounds while Pirtek Stadium was demolished and replaced by Western Sydney Stadium. [33] On 8 October 2016, the opening round of the 2016–17 A-League season attracted a crowd of 61,880 for the Sydney Derby, with Sydney FC prevailing 4–0. That game remains as the highest-ever crowd figure for an A-League match. [34]

2015 AFC Asian Cup

The stadium hosted seven games of the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, including the final. [35]

The 2015 AFC Asian Cup final (pictured) was held at Stadium Australia, along with six other matches during the tournament. 2015 Asian Cup Final.jpg
The 2015 AFC Asian Cup final (pictured) was held at Stadium Australia, along with six other matches during the tournament.
DateTeam #1Res.Team #2StageAttendance
10 January 2015Flag of Uzbekistan.svg  Uzbekistan 1–0Flag of North Korea.svg  North Korea Group B 12,078
13 January 2015Flag of Oman.svg  Oman 0–4Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Group A 50,276
15 January 2015Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar 0–1Flag of Iran.svg  Iran Group C 22,672
19 January 2015Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar 1–2Flag of Bahrain.svg  Bahrain Group C 4,841
23 January 2015Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 1–1

(4–5 pen.)

Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates Quarter-finals 19,094
26 January 2015Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 2–0Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq Semi-finals 36,053
31 January 2015Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 1–2 (a.e.t.)Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Final 76,385

2023 FIFA Women's World Cup

Stadium Australia hosted the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup final, with Spain defeating England 1-0 before a crowd of 75,784. 2023FWWC Final (stadium).jpg
Stadium Australia hosted the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup final, with Spain defeating England 1–0 before a crowd of 75,784.

The stadium hosted the opening match for the Australian half of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. Hosts Australia took on Republic of Ireland and won 1–0 from Steph Catley's converted penalty. The stadium also hosted four knock-out matches of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, including the final between Spain and England. [36]

DateTeam #1Res.Team #2StageAttendance
21 July 2023Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 1–0 Flag of Ireland.svg  Republic of Ireland Group B 75,784
7 August 2023Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 2–0 Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark Round of 16 75,784
12 August 2023Flag of England.svg  England 2–1 Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia Quarter-final 75,784
16 August 2023Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 1–3 Flag of England.svg  England Semi-final 75,784
20 August 2023Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 1–0 Flag of England.svg  England Final 75,784

The stadium is expected to host several games of the 2032 Summer Olympics, including a quarter-final match. [37] [38] [39]

Australian rules football

Motorsports

On 26 October 2002, Stadium Australia played host to Motorcycle speedway with the Speedway Grand Prix of Australia, the 10th and final round of the 2002 Speedway Grand Prix World Championship series. A temporary 400 metres (440 yards) long track was used with American rider Greg Hancock winning the GP from England's Scott Nicholls and Australia's own future triple World Champion Jason Crump whose third place was enough to lift him to third in the championship standings above fellow Aussie Ryan Sullivan. Also representing Australia at the meeting were Leigh Adams who finished 4th in the World Championship, and meeting wildcard riders Jason Lyons and Mick Poole. The event attracted approximately 31,500 fans.

Stadium Australia played host to the first-ever Monster Jam Australia event in 2013, and remains the only venue to feature on all four Australian tours as of 2016. The 2025 Race of Champions is due to be held at the venue in March 2025. This will be the first time the event has been hosted in the Southern Hemisphere. [45]

American football

When it was known as Stadium Australia, the venue hosted the American Bowl on 7 August 1999 between the Denver Broncos and the San Diego Chargers. This was the first professional American football game to be held in the Southern Hemisphere. [46]

On 27 August 2016, the stadium hosted the Sydney Cup—a season-opening 2016 NCAA Division I FBS college football game between the California Golden Bears and the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors. [47]

Concerts

Two Adele Live 2017 concerts took place at Stadium Australia in March 2017. The second concert on 11 March (pictured) set the venue's post-reconfiguration attendance record of 98,364. A panorama of ANZ Stadium during Adele's second Sydney show on March 11, 2017 (crop).jpg
Two Adele Live 2017 concerts took place at Stadium Australia in March 2017. The second concert on 11 March (pictured) set the venue's post-reconfiguration attendance record of 98,364.

Attendance records

Before reconfigurationAfter reconfiguration
Oval shapeRectangular shape
Stadium capacity115,00082,50084,000
Overall114,714
Closing ceremony
(Sydney 2000 Olympics)
1 October 2000
85,000
Ed Sheeran
+–=÷× Tour
24 February 2023
98,364
Adele
Adele Live 2017
11 March 2017
[58]
Athletics112,524
Sydney 2000 Olympics
25 September 2000
Rugby league
(State Of Origin)
88,336
New South Wales v Queensland
(1999 State of Origin series)
9 June 1999
83,813
New South Wales v Queensland
(2013 State of Origin series)
17 July 2013
Rugby league
(premiership)
107,999
St George Illawarra v Melbourne
1999 NRL Grand Final
26 September 1999
83,833
South Sydney Rabbitohs v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
2014 NRL Grand Final
5 October 2014
Rugby union109,874
Australia v New Zealand
(2000 Tri Nations Series)
15 July 2000
83,702
Australia v British & Irish Lions
(2013 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia)
6 July 2013
Australian rules football
(all matches)
72,393
Sydney v Collingwood
(2003 AFL season)
23 August 2003
International soccer104,098 [59]
Spain v Cameroon
(Sydney 2000 Olympics
Men's Football Final)
30 September 2000
82,698
Australia v Uruguay
(2006 FIFA World Cup qualification)
16 November 2005
Club soccer83,598
Sydney FC v Chelsea
2 June 2015
International cricket59,569
Australia v India
T20 International
1 February 2012
Domestic cricket32,823
Sydney Thunder v Sydney Sixers
(2014-15 Big Bash League)
27 December 2014
Australian rules football
(finals)
71,019
Sydney v Brisbane
2003 AFL Preliminary Final
20 September 2003
American football73,811
Denver Broncos v San Diego Chargers
1999 American Bowl
8 August 1999
61,247
California Golden Bears v Hawaii Rainbow Warriors
2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season
27 August 2016
Motorcycle speedway31,500
Speedway Grand Prix of Australia
2002 Speedway Grand Prix
26 October 2002
Concerts66,285
Bee Gees
The One Night Only Tour
27 March 1999
85,000
Ed Sheeran
+–=÷× Tour
24 February 2023
98,364
Adele
Adele Live 2017
11 March 2017
[58]

See also

Notes

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    The Sydney Football Stadium, commercially known as Allianz Stadium and previously Aussie Stadium, was a football stadium in the Moore Park suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Built in 1988 next to the Sydney Cricket Ground, the stadium was Sydney's premier rectangular field venue for rugby league, rugby union and football.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Eden Park</span> Sports stadium in Auckland, New Zealand

    Eden Park is a sports venue in Auckland, New Zealand. It is located three kilometres southwest of the Auckland CBD, on the boundary between the suburbs of Mount Eden and Kingsland. The main stadium has a nominal capacity of 50,000, and is sometimes referred to as New Zealand's national stadium. The stadium is used primarily for rugby union in winter and cricket in summer, and has also hosted rugby league and association football matches, as well as concerts and cultural events. It is owned and operated by the Eden Park Trust Board, whose headquarters are located in the stadium.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Lang Park</span> Multi-purpose stadium in Milton, Queensland, Australia

    Brisbane Stadium (Lang Park), currently known as Suncorp Stadium for sponsorship reasons, is a multi-purpose stadium in the suburb of Milton, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Nicknamed The Cauldron, it is a three-tiered rectangular sporting stadium with a capacity of 52,500. The traditional home of rugby league in Brisbane, the modern stadium is also now used for rugby union and soccer and has a rectangular playing field of 136 by 82 metres (446 by 269 ft). The stadium's major tenants are the Brisbane Broncos, the Dolphins, the Queensland Maroons and the Queensland Reds.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Wellington Regional Stadium</span> Sporting venue in Wellington, New Zealand

    Wellington Regional Stadium is a major sporting venue in Wellington, New Zealand. The stadium's bowl site size is 48,000 m2 (520,000 sq ft).

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Carrara Stadium</span> Stadium on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia

    Carrara Stadium is a stadium on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia, located in the suburb of Carrara.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">North Sydney Oval</span> Sports venue in Sydney, Australia

    North Sydney Oval is a multi-use sporting facility in North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, owned and operated by North Sydney Council. First used as a cricket ground in 1867, it is also used for Australian rules football, rugby league, rugby union and soccer.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Jubilee Oval</span> Stadium in Carlton, New South Wales, Australia

    Jubilee Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Carlton, a suburb in Sydney. The stadium is mainly used for rugby league and the A-League, and is one of the home grounds of the National Rugby League (NRL) team St. George Illawarra Dragons. The stadium has hosted football matches, including hosting Sydney Olympic FC in the 2003–04 National Soccer League and recently, Sydney FC in the 2018–19, 2019–20 A-League, 2020–21 and 2021–22 due to the rebuild of the Sydney Football Stadium. The Cronulla Sutherland Sharks temporarily played at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium during the major redevelopment of their leagues club and stadium in 2020–21.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Perth Rectangular Stadium</span> Stadium in Vincent, Western Australia

    Perth Rectangular Stadium is a sports stadium in Perth, the capital of the Australian state of Western Australia. Located close to Perth's central business district, the stadium currently has a maximum capacity of 20,500 people for sporting events and 25,000 people for concerts, with the ground's record attendance of 32,000 people set during an Ed Sheeran concert in 2015. The land on which the stadium was built, known as Loton Park, was made a public reserve in 1904, with the main ground developed several years later.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Leichhardt Oval</span> Stadium in Leichhardt New South Wales, Australia

    Leichhardt Oval is a rugby league and soccer stadium in Lilyfield, New South Wales, Australia. It is currently one of three home grounds for the Wests Tigers National Rugby League (NRL) team, along with Campbelltown Stadium and Western Sydney Stadium. Prior to its merger with the Western Suburbs Magpies, it was the longtime home of the Balmain Tigers, who used the ground from 1934–1994 and 1997–1999. It was named after Ludwig Leichhardt.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Hindmarsh Stadium</span> Football stadium

    Hindmarsh Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Hindmarsh, an inner western suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. It is the home of the Australian A-League team, Adelaide United.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Marrara Oval</span> Sports ground in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia

    Marrara Oval is a sports ground in Darwin, the capital of Australia's Northern Territory. The ground primarily hosts Australian rules football, cricket, and rugby league.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Parramatta Stadium</span> Defunct sports stadium in Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia,

    Parramatta Stadium was a sports stadium in Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia, 24 km (15 mi) west of Sydney CBD. The stadium was the home ground of several western Sydney-based sports teams, at the time of closure the most notable were the Parramatta Eels of the National Rugby League and the Western Sydney Wanderers of the A-League.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Sydney SuperDome</span> Large multipurpose arena located in Sydney

    The Sydney SuperDome is a multipurpose arena located in Sydney Olympic Park suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It was completed in 1999 as part of the facilities for the 2000 Summer Olympics.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Olympic Park Stadium (Melbourne)</span> Former sports stadium in Melbourne

    Olympic Park Stadium was a multi-purpose outdoor stadium located on Olympic Boulevard in inner Melbourne, Australia. The stadium was built as an athletics training venue for the 1956 Olympics, a short distance from the Melbourne Cricket Ground, which served as the Olympic Stadium. Over the years it was the home of rugby league side, Melbourne Storm and the A-League team, Melbourne Victory; throughout its life the stadium played host to athletics. Olympic Park Stadium was located in Olympic Park, which is part of the Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Precinct.

    Barlow Park is a multi-sports facility and stadium in Parramatta Park, Cairns, Queensland, Australia.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Sydney Showground Stadium</span> Stadium in Sydney, Australia

    Sydney Showground Stadium is a sports and events stadium located at the Sydney Showground in Sydney Olympic Park, a suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It hosted the baseball events for the 2000 Summer Olympics. The Showground, including the stadium, is operated by the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW (RAS), under lease from the New South Wales Government.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Western Sydney Stadium</span> Stadium in Parramatta, Australia

    Western Sydney Stadium, currently known as CommBank Stadium for sponsorship reasons, is a multi-purpose stadium in the suburb of Parramatta, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It replaced the demolished Parramatta Stadium (1986) which in turn was built on the site of the old Cumberland Oval, home ground to the Parramatta Eels since 1947. The current stadium opened in April 2019 and has a 30,000-seat capacity. The stadium is owned by the NSW Government and built at a cost of $300 million. The stadium hosts games across the major rectangular field sports in Sydney.

    Sport is a significant aspect of the Sydney lifestyle. Activities range from the occasional international event, annual competitions, competitive leagues and individual recreational pursuits. Sydney is the home of Australia's biggest sports league, the National Rugby League, hosting 16 teams, and the base for a number of teams in national competitions including two Australian Football League and eight National Rugby League teams.

    The 2020 NRL season was the 113th season of professional rugby league in Australia and the 23rd season run by the National Rugby League.

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    Preceded by National Rugby League
    Grand final venue

    1999–present
    Succeeded by
    incumbent
    Preceded by Summer Olympics
    Opening and Closing Ceremonies (Sydney Olympic Stadium)

    2000
    Succeeded by
    Preceded by Summer Olympics
    Football Men's Finals (Sydney Olympic Stadium)

    2000
    Succeeded by
    Preceded by Olympic Athletics competitions
    Main Venue

    2000
    Succeeded by
    Preceded by Rugby World Cup
    Final Venue

    2003
    Succeeded by
    Preceded by AFC Asian Cup
    Final Venue

    2015
    Succeeded by
    Preceded by FIFA Women's World Cup
    Final venue

    2023
    Succeeded by
    TBA