BlueBet Stadium – stadium description

When was Penrith Stadium opened?

The first match at Penrith Park was played on April 8, 1967, when the Penrith Panthers and Newtown Jets faced each other (16:10). The official inauguration of the facility took place a little later, on April 23, 1967, and was opened by Harold Matthews, Vice President of the NSW Rugby League. From the outset, the stadium primarily served the Penrith Panthers rugby league team, for whom the 1967 season was the inaugural season in the New South Wales Rugby League (the predecessor to the National Rugby League).

How was Penrith Stadium developed?

The facility was originally shaped like an oval. It was surrounded by not very high earth embankments and the modest main stand was on the west side. The stadium completely changed its appearance in the 1980s when the playing field was changed into a rectangle-shaped one and new stands were built along the pitch. The last major expansion took place in 2006, when the west stand was extended with a new section on the south side and new boxes were built.

What events has Penrith Stadium hosted?

As well as regular matches for the rugby league team, Penrith Panthers (four-time national champions), the stadium has occasionally played host to other teams and games, for example, between 1984 and 1985 Penrith City FC played at the venue. In 2008, two Rugby League World Cup matches were played at the facility. The stadium has also hosted other national rugby league matches, and the Australian women's national football team has also played here.

What names did the Penrith Panthers venue have?

The stadium, most commonly associated as either Penrith Stadium or Penrith Park, has had different names over the years due to frequent changes of title sponsors. Between 2006 and 2010, the name Credit Union Australia Stadium was used, followed by Centrebet Stadium (2011-2013), Sportingbet Stadium (2014) and Pepper Stadium (2015-2017). The next few years lacked a sponsor and the stadium was renamed Panthers Stadium. As of 2021, another agreement is in place, under which the arena is called BlueBet Stadium.

What does Penrith Stadium look like?

The venue is located in Penrith, a remote western suburb of Sydney. The stadium has a rectangular pitch that, in addition to rugby league, also allows football or rugby union games to be staged at it. Along the pitch are two-storey, partially covered (in the upper sections) stands. The main stand with boxes and facilities sits on the west side.

Behind the ends of the pitch, on the north and south sides, there are grassed gentle slopes from which fans can also watch matches. The slope on the north side is known as Family Hill. The venue is equipped with floodlights and LED screens and has a capacity of 22,500 spectators.

What will be the future of Penrith Stadium?

There are plans to build a new stadium for Penrith Panthers from 2021. Initial ideas were to redevelop the current facility, but it was later decided that a completely new arena would be better constructed on the site of the nearby Penrith Paceway. The new facility is expected to hold 30 000 spectators and cost more than $300 million, which will come from the New South Wales state budget. Following the eventual construction of the new stadium, the old facility would be demolished.