- November 20, 2024
- Posted by: SportsV
- Categories: Featured Articles, Features, Home News, Industry News, News, Press Releases, Tenders
The Penrith Stadium redevelopment has reached a major milestone with the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure having granted planning consent, clearing the path for a contract to be awarded and work to start.
With the planning green tick of approval, a contract is expected to be awarded soon for a builder to start work early next year, with completion set for 2026.
You can now access all planning details of the design, construction, and operation of the redevelopment on the Major Project planning portal.
The State Significant Development application and its supporting Environmental Impact Statement were on public exhibition from May to June 2024, with feedback addressed in the Response to Submissions in August 2024.
Penrith Stadium is set to become a superior entertainment venue, improving the experience for fans and spectators, with better seats and sightlines in new grandstands, more food outlets, amenities and recreation space, new scoreboards and ribbon boards, sound systems and lighting.
As part of the upgrade, the ground capacity is set to be increased to around 25,000 and an additional 5,000 capacity when hosting up to 10 concerts a year.
Newly designed stadium
The newly designed stadium will bring fans closer to the field with premium views and larger, steeper western and eastern grandstands, boosting energy, sound and excitement for fans, teams and players.
The stadium offers a range of accessibility features to ensure an improved experience for all, as well as a 300% increase in wheelchair accessible seating, 85% increase in accessible toilets, and a significant increase in the number of women’s toilets.
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It will also include upgraded player amenities, including new female friendly facilities to support the growth of women’s sport.
Additionally, the training field to the west of the stadium will be remodelled to create new quality open spaces with multipurpose courts and improved landscaping to increase shade for outdoor entertainment and community use.
More than 500 jobs will be created during construction, with a further 650 jobs to be supported once operational, providing a boost to the local economy.
The stadium will deliver employment opportunities across the food and beverage, and hospitality sectors and bring over $270 million in construction goods and services sourced from local businesses during construction.
The Penrith Stadium is designed to be the best suburban stadium in Australia and will improve visitor and player experience.
The stadium design has been developed in collaboration with Infrastructure NSW, Venues NSW and Penrith Panthers.
Feedback provided during community consultation in 2022 and 2024 was carefully considered by the project team to inform the design, which will:
- Transform the precinct into a modern venue for sport and entertainment
- Improve the visitor experience with upgraded seating and better views of the field
- Create a multi-use, modern rectangular venue suitable for rugby, football and concerts
- Ensure universal accessibility, safety, and inclusivity for all stadium users
- Enhance the gameday experience through improved food and beverage and amenities
- Activate a precinct that operates not only on event days, but throughout the week
- Boost facilities to better cater for NRL matches and benefit female matches to support the growth of women’s sport.
Design team
The design concepts are developed by Populous, a global architectural design firm specialising in creating environments and venues that draw communities and people together. They have partnered with Tyrrell Studio on the project.
There may be further refinements to the stadium design once a main works contractor has been appointed.
Main image (top): Artist’s impression of the upgraded Penrith Stadium – Aerial view
© 2024 Infrastructure New South Wales
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