Award-winning Optus Stadium has helped transform the Burswood Precinct into Perth’s premier entertainment destination, with the world-class, multi-purpose venue attracting hundreds of thousands of people to the area each year.
Set on the banks of the Swan River, Optus Stadium and its surrounding Stadium Park have revitalised what was once waste ground into an internationally recognisable landmark for Perth and Western Australia. Australia’s third largest stadium, the venue is owned by the Western Australian Government and proudly operated by VenuesLive.
Since opening, the 61,000-seat stadium has developed a global reputation as the best venue in Australia, winning the national Austadiums’ Stadium of the Year award for five-years running, along with the SportBusiness International Venue of the Year award in 2022 and the title of Most Beautiful Stadium in the World in UNESCO’s 2019 Prix Versailles international architecture awards.
The world’s biggest entertainers and sporting teams come and play, from Coldplay and U2 to Taylor Swift and Eminem. From the Wallabies, All Blacks and international football giants like Manchester United and AC Milan to NSW and Queensland State of Origin teams. The stadium’s major events calendar underpins Tourism WA’s goal for Perth and Western Australia to be the fastest growing events destination in the SE Asian Region. WA’s favourite teams also call the venue home with the Eagles, Dockers and Scorchers attracting huge crowds.
But it’s not just major events that draw people to the precinct. The stadium has developed a reputation as a highly sought after meetings and special events (MASE) hub, led by a dedicated team.
Its 20 private event spaces welcome thousands of corporate and private guests each year. The venue delivers 600 to 700 unique events annually, including cocktail parties, conferences, Christmas parties, and school balls. Large-scale corporate celebrations take place in the iconic River View Rooms, offering breathtaking city views across the Swan River and cityscape, while the MASE team curates an annual calendar of signature public events, ranging from wine dinners to Super Bowl watch parties and Melbourne Cup celebrations.
The stadium’s unique setting enhances events of all sizes and offers an unforgettable experience for precinct visitors. Whether exploring behind-the-scenes areas like the players' changerooms for a glimpse of what sports stars see on game day or taking on a rooftop adventure 42 metres above the ground, there's something for everyone to enjoy.
Head of MASE Nadia Owen was part of the team charged with getting the stadium ready for opening and created the offering from the ground up.
“Optus Stadium breaks the mould of traditional stadium design with its striking aesthetic,” Ms Owen said.
“Unlike many hotel function spaces, all our rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows, flooding them with natural light and creating a true sense of space and place.
“We work with our in-house chefs to craft a culinary experience that surprises and delights visitors, with a strong focus on Western Australian produce - approximately 85% of our food and beverages come from local suppliers and manufacturers.
“It's clear why we've won numerous awards and become the go-to destination for businesses hosting events, attracting local clients, national associations and international incentive groups.”
The MASE team closely collaborates with key tourism and business partners like Business Events Perth to attract and deliver international and interstate exhibitions, incentives and conferences to WA, driving further economic return to the State.
Visitors to Optus Stadium can expect world-class dining every time – in both the venue’s fine-dining premium hospitality spaces and conventional retail outlet food. Since opening, the culinary team has taken home a range of awards and was inducted into the Restaurant and Catering Institute of WA’s Hall of Fame, and awarded the Prix d’Honneur, after winning the prestigious Gold Plate for Best Venue Corporate Catering three years in a row.
Optus Stadium prides itself on being a major employer, connected to its community. The permanent team is supported by more than 3,200 casual event staff. Its approach to developing this workforce won the Training Initiative Award at the Australian Hotels Association Hospitality Awards for Excellence two years in a row.
As a founding member of the Hospitality Disability Network WA, VenuesLive is actively demonstrating how the hospitality industry can find opportunities to build sustainable careers for people living with disability. More than 80 people with disability have been employed since opening, many of whom are still part of the team.
Accessibility and inclusion are a focus. The aim of Optus Stadium’s design wasn’t only to meet specific codes but rather to strive to exceed them as a minimum standard and create an inclusive venue for all fans.
Optus Stadium has become an enduring asset for the State, but first and foremost belongs to all Western Australians.
