The Penrith Stadium redevelopment plan has hit a major milestone with the State Government opening Expressions of Interest for a delivery partner to help transform and construct the venue.
The government will soon appoint a partner to transform the stadium into a major new sports and entertainment precinct, with the Penrith Panthers to be the anchor tenant.
Penrith Stadium is proposed to become a superior venue for different forms of entertainment, significantly improving the experience for spectators, with more food outlets and amenities, new scoreboards and ribbon boards, sound systems, upgraded lighting and more recreation space.
Additionally, the training field to the west of the stadium will be remodelled to create new quality open spaces with multipurpose courts and improved landscaping for further outdoor community use and events.
As part of the upgrade the ground capacity will be increased to around 25,000 and the grandstands re-designed to be steeper, so fans are as close to the action as possible and have better sightlines to the field or stage.
The Weekender can reveal that the State Significant Development Application for the stadium project will be placed on public exhibition within weeks.
Sports Minister Steve Kamper said expressions of interest were now open for a partner to help guide the project.
“We have heard what the community wants, this is about delivering a new beating heart for Penrith and a precinct the whole community can enjoy year-round,” he said.
“This stadium will be purpose-built to host women’s and men’s NRL games, and will also be able to host soccer, rugby union, live music, and other entertainment events to cater for a wider and more diverse audience in western Sydney.
“I am proud to say the redevelopment will include new player facilities and changerooms to help grow female representation in sports, as well as catering to a diverse range of fans with an increase in wheelchair accessible seats by around 500 per cent and wheelchair accessible toilets by 85 per cent.”
State Penrith MP Karen McKeown said the new venue would be more than just a home for the Panthers.
“This upgrade will go beyond the footy ground, improving the family and fan experience year-round while introducing Penrith and our local businesses to the tourism that will arise out of the entertainment precinct,” she said.
Construction will start at the end of the year and is set to finish in 2026.
The government says it is aiming to “minimise impacts” on the 2026 NRL season.
Troy Dodds
Troy Dodds is the Weekender's Managing Editor and Breaking News Reporter. He has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working with some of Australia's leading media organisations. In 2023, he was named Editor of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.