Work Begins on $309m Penrith Stadium Rebirth

Western Sydney’s “beating heart” is undergoing a $309-million transplant, with demolition now under way at Penrith Stadium ahead of a major rebuild led by John Holland. 

The NSW Government-backed project will deliver a 25,000-capacity stadium designed by Populous, supporting a broader plan to anchor housing, jobs and infrastructure growth across the Western Parkland City. 

Penrith Stadium is the only suburban venue to proceed after the state’s infrastructure review, which shelved other planned upgrades. 

Premier Chris Minns said the stadium was “the beating heart of this community” and described the rebuild as critical to the region’s future. 

“It’s a vital piece of infrastructure for Western Sydney and it deserves the kind of modern, accessible facilities that this rebuild will deliver,” Minns said at the construction launch. 

The redevelopment will replace the existing western grandstand—now being demolished—with a fully reconfigured venue capable of hosting major NRL, rugby union and football matches, along with up to 10 concerts a year and expanded corporate, conference and event facilities. 

John Holland secured the construction contract after a competitive tender process. 

The company delivered Sydney Football Stadium and Marvel Stadium upgrades and will again partner with global sports architects Populous, alongside landscape designers Tyrrell Studio. 

Accessibility and inclusion are central to the new design brief.

The stadium will triple the number of wheelchair-accessible seats, double female bathrooms and changerooms, and upgrade wayfinding, technology and crowd management systems. 

The adjacent training field will be transformed into landscaped public open space featuring multipurpose courts, playgrounds and improved community amenity. 

Infrastructure NSW, which is overseeing delivery of the project, said the stadium would be repositioned as a year-round destination for events, recreation and local gatherings. 

“We look forward to seeing the positive impact this project will have on the region, providing a new social and entertainment hub that will support more families moving into new homes being rolled out by the NSW Government in Western Sydney,” Infrastructure NSW Head of Projects Bruno Zinghini said. 

Penrith Stadium’s redevelopment was announced in late 2021 and the new stadium is expected to open in 2027. 

It joins a string of major public infrastructure projects under way across Western Sydney, including Western Sydney International Airport and the Bradfield City Centre.