Optus Stadium reaches five-year milestone

January 21, 2023

Perth’s Optus Stadium is today marking five years since it opened its doors.

Since opening on 21st January 2018, the multi-award-winning venue has hosted over 180 major events, 6,435 tours and more than 2000 meetings and special events - welcoming more than 6.7 million fans in that time.

Owned by VenuesWest on behalf of the Western Australian Government, the VenuesLive-managed facility is the state's largest singular destination for sport and entertainment.

With a commitment to a 'fans first' philosophy, the venue’s innovative design that makes it compatible to host a range of major sporting and entertainment events. This has seen it receive 59 awards since opening, from being recognised as the World's Most Beautiful Stadium (UNESCO's Prix Versailles) in 2019 to being named Venue of the Year at the global Stadium Business Awards in Manchester in 2022.

During its five years, VenuesLive has employed and trained more than 11,000 casual hospitality event day staff who have worked more than 280,000 shifts over the five years, with a long list of other operators and hirers also engaged in the stadium environment delivering incredible events to the Burswood Peninsula.

Stadium Park has also played host to 29 outdoor events including the recent Wildlands music festival, annual Christmas Festivals and the Telethon Family Festival in 2021.

Stadium Karts - another innovation developed since the opening in 2018 - will begin operating next week, with places still available for speed demons to hit the track at speeds of up to 70 kilometres per hour.

The OZONE is home to the Stadium's Behind the Scenes Tours, Indigenous Cultural Tours and the HALO and VERTIGO rooftop experiences, which have been enjoyed by 118,000 locals and tourists alike.

Commenting on the milestone, Western Australian acting Sport and Recreation, Minister Stephen Dawson advised “there is no doubt that Optus Stadium has been a runaway success and it has a recognised global reputation as the best venue in Australia as winner of the AUStadiums award two-years running and now internationally with the Venue of the Year award in 2022.

"The success of the stadium is testament to the planning and design for the Stadium, the surrounding Stadium Park and the public transport solution. The venue has proven its capacity to attract the highest calibre of events to WA in its first five years and is set to continue.

"Everyone including fans and sports stars as well as entertainers, support staff, broadcasters, suppliers, security, food and beverage staff, and other stakeholders such as the Burswood Park Authority, Tennis West and Town of Victoria Park play an incredibly important role in making our stadium what it is today."

7th November 2022 - Optus Stadium and Live Ningaloo among gold medal recipients at 2022 Perth Airport WA Tourism Awards

30th August 2022 - Celebrity chef Matt Moran named Culinary Ambassador at Sydney’s Accor Stadium and CommBank Stadium and Optus Stadium in Perth

7th July 2022 - Optus Stadium named Venue of the Year at TheStadiumBusiness Awards

5th May 2022 - Optus Stadium’s accessible rooftop experiences an Australian first

25th March 2022 - Perth’s Optus Stadium set to welcome up to 45,000 fans for AFL round three

9th March 2022 - New Vertigo rooftop experience launched at Perth’s Optus Stadium

25th February 2022 - Western Australia’s top sports stars recognised at Perth’s Optus Stadium

10th September 2021 - VenuesLive steps up recruitment drive for Optus Stadium hospitality staff

31st August 2021 - AFL 2021 Grand Final to be played at Perth’s Optus Stadium

3rd August 2021 - Construction commences on new rooftop viewing platform at Perth’s Optus Stadium

21st April 2021 - State of Origin returns to Optus Stadium in 2022

20th April 2021 - Optus Stadium welcomes largest Australian sports crowd since before Coronavirus

9th February 2021 - Naming rights for Perth’s Optus Stadium emerges as Western Australian election issue

28th January 2021 - Perth’s Matagarup Bridge climb starts activation of Optus Stadium precinct

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