Accor Stadium, originally known as Stadium Australia, located in Sydney Olympic Park, New South Wales, Australia, is a multi-purpose venue renowned for hosting some of the country’s most significant sporting and entertainment events. Originally built for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, the stadium officially opened on 6 March 1999. Its construction cost was approximately A$690 million. Initially known as Sydney Olympic Stadium, it has undergone several naming changes, including Telstra Stadium and ANZ Stadium, before becoming Accor Stadium in 2021 under a sponsorship agreement with the hospitality company Accor.
The stadium was designed to accommodate a large audience, with an original capacity of 115,000, making it the largest Olympic stadium ever built at the time. Post-Olympics, reconfigurations were carried out to suit various sports and events. These adjustments reduced the capacity to 84,000 for rectangular sports and 82,500 for oval-shaped fields. Features such as retractable seating and roofed stands were added to improve flexibility and spectator experience.
Accor Stadium is a UEFA Category 4 stadium, reflecting its ability to host high-profile international events. Over the years, it has been the venue for National Rugby League (NRL) Grand Finals, State of Origin matches, rugby union internationals, FIFA World Cup qualifiers, and cricket matches. It hosted seven matches during the 2015 AFC Asian Cup and five during the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, including the final. The stadium has also welcomed significant cultural events, such as concerts by Adele, Taylor Swift, and Ed Sheeran, which attracted record-breaking audiences.
The venue’s iconic moments include Cathy Freeman’s gold medal win at the 2000 Olympics and the historic 2005 penalty shootout victory by the Australian football team against Uruguay to qualify for the FIFA World Cup. Its location within Sydney Olympic Park ensures accessibility via public transport, with a dedicated train station and special event buses.
The stadium is equipped with advanced facilities, including LED lighting and a modernised scoreboard, ensuring it remains suitable for contemporary events. Ongoing plans for future developments aim to enhance the spectator experience further. Today, Accor Stadium is a central part of Australia’s sporting and entertainment landscape, continuing to host diverse events that draw large crowds locally and internationally. Its history and versatility solidify its status as a landmark venue in Sydney.
Accor Stadium, originally known as Stadium Australia, was built for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. Located in Sydney Olympic Park, New South Wales, the stadium was designed as a multi-purpose venue to host a variety of sporting and cultural events. Construction began on 12 September 1996 and was completed in March 1999 at a cost of A$690 million. The stadium initially had a seating capacity of 115,000, making it the largest Olympic stadium in history at the time.
The stadium opened officially on 6 March 1999 with a rugby league double-header that attracted over 104,000 spectators. It played a central role in the Sydney 2000 Olympics, hosting the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as athletics and football events. Notably, the evening athletics session on 25 September 2000, where Cathy Freeman won the gold medal in the women’s 400 metres, drew a record crowd of 112,524. The venue also hosted the Olympic men’s football final, where Cameroon defeated Spain, and the closing ceremony recorded an attendance of 114,714, the highest for the stadium.
After the Olympics, the stadium underwent significant reconfigurations to make it suitable for various sports, including rugby league, rugby union, football, cricket, and Australian rules football. Movable seating was installed, reducing its maximum capacity to around 84,000. The venue was renamed Telstra Stadium in 2002 under a naming rights agreement, then became ANZ Stadium in 2008. In 2021, the stadium was renamed Accor Stadium after a new sponsorship deal.
Over the years, the stadium has hosted numerous high-profile events. It has been the permanent venue for the National Rugby League (NRL) Grand Final since 1999 (except in 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions). It is also the venue for State of Origin matches and has hosted major international rugby union fixtures, such as the 2003 Rugby World Cup final, where England defeated Australia. The venue played a significant role during the 2015 AFC Asian Cup and the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, including hosting the final matches for both tournaments.
Accor Stadium has also served as a venue for concerts by international artists, including Adele, Taylor Swift, and Ed Sheeran, which drew record-breaking crowds. Recent upgrades include the installation of LED lighting, a new scoreboard, and improvements to player facilities in preparation for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Currently, Accor Stadium continues to serve as a key venue for major sporting and cultural events in Australia. It remains an essential part of Sydney's infrastructure and is expected to host several matches during the 2032 Brisbane Olympics. Its versatility and history ensure its continued prominence in the global arena.
Accor Stadium is a multi-purpose venue located in Sydney Olympic Park, New South Wales, Australia. The stadium was initially constructed for the 2000 Sydney Olympics and was designed to accommodate a variety of sports and entertainment events. The original design featured a seating capacity of 115,000, making it one of the largest stadiums in the world at the time. The field can be configured into both rectangular and oval shapes to suit different sports, making it highly versatile.
The main structure includes four primary stands: the Northern Stand, Southern Stand, Eastern Stand, and Western Stand. The stadium was initially open-air, but subsequent renovations added roofs over the Northern and Southern Stands. These roofs provide cover for the majority of the seating areas, improving the experience for spectators during events. The Western and Eastern Stands remain prominent features of the stadium, offering excellent viewing angles for a range of sports and activities.
Movable seating is one of the key structural features of the stadium. This allows sections of the seating to be retracted or extended to suit the specific needs of different events, such as rugby, football, or cricket. This flexibility is a significant factor in the stadium’s ability to host diverse events throughout the year.
The field size measures 160 metres in length and 118 metres in width, making it suitable for a variety of sports. The surface is natural grass, which is regularly maintained to meet the standards required for international competitions. The stadium also has advanced drainage systems to ensure the field remains usable in all weather conditions.
Modern additions to the structure include high-definition LED video screens, installed at both ends of the stadium. These screens are among the largest in the southern hemisphere and provide clear visuals for spectators. The lighting system was upgraded to energy-efficient LED lights, which are used for both day and night events.
The stadium also includes facilities for players, officials, and media. These include locker rooms, medical facilities, and press areas. The recent refurbishment of the match-day facilities ensured compliance with international standards, particularly for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The venue is designed to accommodate large crowds while providing comfort and accessibility for all attendees.
Accor Stadium's structure reflects its role as a world-class venue capable of hosting major international events while catering to the needs of players, spectators, and organisers.
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