Everything You Need To Know Ahead Of Origin Game 1 At Accor Stadium

Accor Stadium will host Game 1 of the 2022 Ampol State of Origin series as the mighty Brydens Lawyers NSW Blues return home to defend their title against arch-rivals Queensland Maroons.

Always an unmissable event on the footy calendar, over 80,000 fans are expected to stream to Sydney Olympic Park for the first Origin game at Accor Stadium since 2020.

To help you have the best possible time on game day, we’ve put together the below guide full of helpful tips.

See also our Event Page for more info.

Match Day Schedule

4:00pm – Party starts in Sydney Olympic Park precinct

5:00pm – Stadium Gates Open

5:15pm – Kick-off: NSW Police v Queensland Police

7:30pm – Pre-match Entertainment

8:00pm – Kick-off: NSW Blues v Queensland Maroons

Tickets

To avoid queues at the box office pre-purchase tickets online via Ticketek.

Download and share tickets with your group prior to arriving at the Stadium.

Tickets are still available from $45 (kids), $49 (adults) or $159 (family of four).

Hot Tip: To enjoy a night out with 10,000 blue-wigged members of the Blatchy’s Blues supporter group, click here.

Getting There

With over 80,000 fans due in the precinct, use of public transport is advised because: Car Parks at Sydney Olympic Park are SOLD OUT.

If you have not pre-booked a parking spot in Sydney Olympic Park, DO NOT DRIVE. Car parks are no longer available.

Use of public transport is also advised because: all match-day tickets include return travel on public transport.

Hot Tip: The most important thing for a great game day is to plan your trip, get moving early and leave plenty of time for getting to Sydney Olympic Park and into Accor Stadium.

The travel entitlement extends throughout the Sydney Metropolitan transport network and to the regional cities of Newcastle and Wollongong, and beyond to Bomaderry, Goulburn, Bathurst, Scone and Dungog stations.

Express train services will run from Central to Sydney Olympic Park every 10 minutes from 4:20pm.

Additional train services from Sydney’s west will be running into Sydney Olympic Park.

Major Event Buses to Sydney Olympic Park will run every 5-15 minutes from 3:10pm, depending on the route.

The transport entitlement also includes:

Sydney and Newcastle Light Rail;
Sydney Metropolitan and Outer Metropolitan regular bus routes;
Sydney Ferry services.

Hot Tip: Plan your trip using the Transport for NSW Trip Planner.

If you have pre-booked parking, carpool. And plan well ahead. Sydney Olympic Park will be extremely busy with over 80,000 people expected. Combined with the usual daily peak hour (roughly 5-7pm) there will be heavy traffic around the Stadium and delays are expected.

Traffic updates are available in real time at livetraffic.com. You can also follow Tweets @LiveTrafficSyd.

Once You’re There

From 4pm the Sydney Olympic Park precinct, particularly Fig Grove, Olympic Boulevard and around the train station, will come to life with:

Entertainment;
Live music;
Merchandise;
Bars;
Restaurants;
The delicious aromas from 30 food trucks.

The Locker Room, Brewery Bar and The Lounge will have extended bars.

There will be games and activities for kids.

Hot Tip: arrive early, make an evening of it, soak up the pre-match atmosphere.

On The Inside

Gates open at 5pm.

Leave plenty of time for the Stadium Entry Process.

To ensure smooth entry, please leave large bags at home.

At 5:15pm NSW Police take on Queensland Police.

Pre-match entertainment starts at 7:30pm.

Hot Tip: Get into your seat well before kick-off to soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the light show, pre-match entertainment and the world’s longest stadium screen.

Then: strap yourself in! The Big Match kicks off at 8pm.

Heading Home

With 80,000 fans leaving at once, fans could avoid traffic and queues by hanging around to grab a bite to eat or a drink at several bars and restaurants.

There will also be live late night music entertainment near P1 car park and Olympic Boulevard.

All the public transport which brought people to the precinct will be waiting to take people home. And public transport remains included in your match-day ticket.