Penrith Stadium seating installation begins as new design revealed

Seating installation has begun at the new Penrith Stadium, with the grandstands’ seating design revealed as the $309 million redevelopment progresses towards a 2027 reopening.

Seats are being installed in the eastern grandstand, with work on the western grandstand to follow. The design draws inspiration from western Sydney’s natural landscapes, with the eastern stand reflecting the Blue Mountains and the western stand inspired by the native grasslands of the Cumberland Plain.

Two new video scoreboards are also being installed, each measuring 19 metres wide, almost double the width of the former scoreboard. The screens will be supported by new ribbon boards, sound and lighting systems.

Internal fit-out is progressing across corporate suites, function rooms, player facilities, food and beverage outlets and bathrooms, alongside work on the field of play.

The latest update confirms 184 accessible seats will be provided throughout the stadium, compared with 37 at the previous venue. Spectator amenities will also be substantially expanded, with more than 450 toilets, around three times the previous provision, and one food and beverage point of sale for every 150 patrons. More than 1,800 workers have contributed to the project so far.

The seating milestone follows completion of the new grandstand roofs in July. More than half of the stadium’s seats will be under cover, while solar panels on the western roof can generate up to 120 kilowatts of electricity.

Once complete, the venue will accommodate approximately 25,000 spectators for sport and up to 30,000 for concerts. The redevelopment retains the traditional grass hills alongside new, steeper grandstands designed to improve views and bring spectators closer to the action.

Four changerooms will support men’s and women’s sport, while landscaped open space, basketball courts and a community playing field will extend use of the precinct beyond match days.

The Penrith Panthers are expected to return for the 2027 NRL season after the ground closed following the 2024 campaign, with the team playing home games at CommBank Stadium. An exact opening date has yet to be announced.

The redeveloped venue will open as Helloworld Stadium under a five-year naming rights agreement announced in March.