- Accor Stadium (Stadium Australia) will host the Matildas’ opening FIFA World Cup 2023 game against Republic of Ireland on Thursday 20 July, along with four major games including the World Cup Final on Sunday 20 August;
- The NSW Government has invested $81.4 million for improvements at Accor Stadium ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2023, including a major upgrade of athlete change rooms, officials areas and the media conference room;
- After a huge Summer of Concerts, NRL footy returns to Accor Stadium this Saturday night when home club the South Sydney Rabbitohs host the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles.
Accor Stadium’s athlete change rooms, officials area and media conference room have undergone a multimillion-dollar upgrade ahead of the venue’s first NRL games for the season and in the countdown to the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 in July-August.
Having hosted almost 500,000 fans over an unprecedented Summer of Concerts season, Accor Stadium has now transitioned from major concert venue to sporting arena ahead of an exciting winter of events.
The sleek and modern upgrade of facilities was designed by the original architects of the stadium, Populous, and has created four gender-neutral change rooms suitable for all codes, along with new recovery pools.
Adding to the match-day zone and home ground feel is the ability for every team to bring their club or national identity to life, quickly and efficiently using new lighting infrastructure.
Officials and media will also enjoy new and improved facilities with upgrades to the officials’ change rooms, match-day office and medical areas, as well as the media conference room on Level 0.
Venues NSW CEO Kerrie Mather said it’s the last stage of an $81.4 million investment in upgrades at Accor Stadium ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, the biggest sporting event to come to Sydney since the 2003 Rugby World Cup.
“We have invested significantly in Sydney’s major event stadium, Accor Stadium, to enhance the spectator experience for the millions of fans who attend live events each year,” Mather said.
“It’s fantastic to extend that world-class experience to the areas used by our athletes, officials and media, providing the very best event-day environment possible.
“We’ve just witnessed arguably the biggest concert season ever, and there’s a lot more to look forward to at Accor Stadium with rugby league returning before the FIFA Women’s World Cup comes to town.”
Accor Stadium has also completed a number of other recent upgrades. The 120m-long Great Southern Screen, sports lighting and parapet LED on Level 3 has elevated the spectator and event-day experience for fans inside the stadium.
Venues NSW has also completed Accor Stadium’s roof and primary structure restoration project to extend the longevity of the venue, while supporting the potential installation of a retractable roof in the future.
In preparation for the return of winter football to Accor Stadium, Head Curator Graeme Logan and his grounds team have completed a full pitch turf replacement, upgraded the arena irrigation system and installed the NRL posts in the countdown to the Rabbitohs v Sea Eagles Round 4 NRL fixture this Saturday night.
“We have come through our major concert period in good shape and rolled out ready-to-play turf as we welcome back NRL footy,” Logan said.
“We have had this pitch growing in Western Sydney in preparation for the football season. The posts are now up and it’s all systems go for a big season ahead.”
Accor Stadium is gearing up for an exciting winter of sport, highlighted by an NRL double-header at Easter featuring the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs v South Sydney Rabbitohs on Good Friday 7 April and Wests Tigers v Parramatta Eels on Easter Monday 10 April. This will be followed by a potentially series-deciding State of Origin Game 3 on Wednesday 12 July.
Immediately following State of Origin is the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, with Accor Stadium hosting the CommBank Matildas’ opening night game against the Republic of Ireland on Thursday 20 July, along with four major games including the World Cup Final on Sunday 20 August.
Accor Stadium will revert to its generic name Stadium Australia for the FIFA Women’s World Cup under FIFA regulations.
