Brand-new ‘fans first’ Optus Stadium opens its doors

The brand new Optus Stadium has officially opened, allowing fans and vistors to experience this world-class, ‘fans first’ venue.

Optus Stadium’s first official event was last weekend’s Open Day, which was closely followed by this weekend’s first official sporting event, the Gillette One-Day International between Australia and England, which welcomed some 53,781 fans; the highest attended match of the series!

This will be quickly followed with an AFL Women’s match on February 10, Ed Sheeran concerts on March 2 and 3, the Perth NRL Double Header on March 10, the AFL Premiership Season then gets underway March 25, there’s the Nitro Circus on April 22 and Taylor Swift on October 19.

It is hoped that the February 10 event, when the Fremantle Dockers take on Collingwood, will attract the country’s biggest-ever crowd for a standalone women’s sporting match. More than 30,000 fans are expected at the game, which would break the AFLW attendance record, and put into play the possibility of eclipsing the Australian-record women’s sport attendance of 41,000 – which has stood since 1929. The match is expected to smash the current Fremantle Dockers Women’s record home crowd of 10,000.

Optus Stadium and the surrounding Park is located east of the Perth Central Business District, on the Burswood Peninsula. With views of the picturesque Swan River and Perth city in the west and the foothills in the east, this 60,000-seat, world-class, multi-purpose Stadium will host a variety of sports and entertainment events including Australian Football League, International and Big Bash League cricket, soccer, rugby league and union plus concerts.

Contruction began on the Stadium, which is owned by the Western Australian State Government, in December 2013 and remains on schedule to open this Sunday, January 21, 2018.

The Westadium consortium, led by Brookfield Financial and John Laing, with design teams HASSELL, Cox Architecture and HKS, was appointed to design, build, partially finance and maintain the new Stadium back in 2014.

In June 2016, VenuesLive was appointed as the Stadium Operator and are responsible for the day-to-day management of the venue.

Fans First Stadium

Brookfield Multiplex, the builders of the new Optus Stadium, awarded a contract to Daktronics (NASDAQ-DAKT) of Brookings, South Dakota, USA, to design, manufacture and install a total of eight LED video displays in and around the stadium, which will provide a ‘fans first’ experience. The displays were installed this summer to create an energising and entertaining atmosphere for fans of the many events to be hosted at the stadium.

The video display integration plays a key part in the overall experience at the stadium, and Multiplex chose Daktronics because of their capability to provide exactly what was required to meet the requirements for this project within tight time constraints and accounting for other crews on site.

The two main displays are located at the east and west ends of the stadium and measure approximately 10m-high by 34m-wide, each featuring a 15HD pixel layout. Each will provide more than 340 square metres of display area for live video, instant replays and event statistics as well as providing the opportunity to highlight sponsors and statistics during events. The 15HD pixel layout provides incredible clarity and contrast, while boasting great viewing angles from any seat in the stadium.

Blair Roberston, Daktronics Regional Manager, said:

Daktronics Show Control is at the heart of the live show, integrated and triggering with the sound, lights and all LED within and outside Optus Stadium. This is a true super system designed to entertain and amaze the fans. With two of the largest displays in the country, spectators have a perfect view of the replay action wherever they are seated, even in direct sunlight.

 

The moment you approach the stadium the Daktronics super system will start informing and entertaining you. It continues to help you while identifying where your seat is, entertaining you throughout the game, leading you to the hotdog stands, pointing you to merchandising opportunities, and helping you on your way home. Optus Stadium is world-class and will provide a unique experience through light, sound and digital content designed for the fans.

Two ribbon displays wrap around the stadium at ground level and level one. The ground level ribbon measures more than 1m-high by 345m-long and features 10mm line spacing. The level one ribbon measures 0.75m-high by 380m-long and features a 15HD pixel layout. Both provide complementary content to the main displays such as event prompts, statistics and advertising.

Sponsorships and advertising were the initial benefits of the displays, but once they were installed they will display so much more.

Images, courtesy: Optus Stadium / Daktronics

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