The much-anticipated Australia Cup 2022 Final between Sydney United 58 FC and Macarthur FC will be played at CommBank Stadium – the home of sport in Western Sydney – on Saturday 1 October.

Football Australia confirmed the venue today and announced that family and fan-friendly ticket prices have been set for the occasion and will go on pre-sale at 2pm  on Wednesday 21 September, with general public on-sale at 4pm 21 September via Ticketek.

In qualifying for the Australia Cup 2022 Final, Sydney United 58 FC become the first semi-professional outfit to feature in Australian football’s premier knockout competition in the modern era when they take on Isuzu UTE A-League Men side, Macarthur FC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sydney United 58 FC are a storied club who enjoyed success during the National Soccer League era, producing many Socceroos including the likes of current Socceroos Head Coach Graham Arnold, Mark Bosnich, Tim Cahill, Jason Culina, Craig Foster, Mile Jedinak, Zeljko Kalac, Eddie Krncevic, Tony Popovic, Robbie Slater, Ned Zelic and David Zdrilic.

Having played eight matches enroute to the Australia Cup 2022 Final, Sydney United 58 FC caused two major Cupsets – defeating reigning Isuzu UTE A-League Champions Western United FC in the Round of 16 and Brisbane Roar FC in the Semi-Final.

However, they will come up against a Macarthur FC side brimming with confidence, scoring 17 goals in their four matches during the Australia Cup 2022 Final Rounds, including an empathic 5-2 victory over Oakleigh Cannons FC during their Semi-Final.

The Australia Cup 2022 Final will also be the first professional Final as a Head Coach for former Trinidad & Tobago International and Manchester United Legend, Dwight Yorke.

Yorke, who was appointed in May, has assembled an impressive roster heading into the 2022-23 Isuzu UTE A-League Men season including the prized signing of Daniel Arzani, who has three goals during their Australia Cup 2022 run to-date.

The Australia Cup is the only competition in Australian sport where amateur clubs get the opportunity to compete against the sport’s premier clubs, in their shared vision of being crowned Cup Winners.

In 2022, 742 clubs competed in this year’s competition, with two remaining: Sydney United 58 FC and Macarthur FC.

With thanks to Football Australia’s broadcast partner, Network 10, the Australia Cup 2022 Final will be shown LIVE and FREE across Australia on Channel 10’s primary channel.

Football Australia would like to acknowledge the ongoing support of Australia Cup 2022 partners Mitre and Qantas.

Here is everything you need to know:

NRL Semi-Final:
Parramatta Eels v Canberra Raiders
Friday 16 September
Gates open: 6:15pm
Kick-off: 7:50pm
Full time: 9:35pm approx.

Stats that matter:

Parramatta – Finished fourth, 16 wins and eight losses. Lost to Penrith 27-8 last week.
Canberra – Finish eighth, 14 wins and 10 losses. Beat Melbourne 28-20 last week.

Your Game Plan:

• Arrive early! To avoid queues at the gate and ensure you don’t miss any of the action, it is recommended you arrive at least one hour before kick-off. You can also enjoy an on-field DJ performance, watch the players warm up, visit Kids PARRAdise or have your photo taken with the NRL Trophy!
• Public transport is the best way to get to the footy! Avoid gameday traffic and get to the footy without the stress of parking. Plan your trip to CommBank Stadium here.
• If you need to drive, consider your parking options. There is no public parking at the stadium, but there are a number of parking stations within walking distance, including half-price parking after 6pm at the Station Car Park in City of Parramatta. Pre-booking encouraged. Click here for our advice.

Last time they met:

The Eels and the Raiders met just once during the 2022 regular season, with Parramatta taking the points 28-20 at GIO Stadium back in May. However, the Raiders still hold the edge in overall clashes between the sides, having won 21 of the 37 games played, compared to the Eels’ 16.

Friday night’s finals crowd to join highest attendances at CommBank Stadium:

The 2019 Elimination Final between Parramatta and the Brisbane Broncos holds top spot for highest attendance at CommBank Stadium. The Eels cruised to a 58-0 win that day, much to the delight of the almost 30,000 in the stands. Four of the next five highest attendances at CommBank Stadium occurred in 2022. Parramatta recorded the highest average home crowd of any NSW club in 2022, with an average of 20,944 fans turning out per game at CommBank Stadium, and 20,034 including all home games.

Highest NRL attendances at CommBank Stadium

1. NRL Finals: Eels v Broncos – 15 September 2019 – 29,372
2. NRL: Eels v Wests Tigers* – 22 April 2019 (Easter Monday) – 29,047
3. NRL: Eels v Wests Tigers – 18 April 2022 (Easter Monday) – 28,336
4. NRL: Eels v Panthers – 29 July 2022 – 26,912
5. NRL All Stars Game – 12 February 2022 – 26,755
6. NRL: Eels v Bulldogs – 20 August 2022 – 26,451

*Opening match at CommBank Stadium

Tickets:

This event is sold out, so please do not attend if you do not have a ticket. If you are a ticket holder, please remember to download, print and share your tickets before you arrive to allow for a smooth entry process.

Food and Beverage:

There are a number of food and beverage retail options available at the stadium. New items available include the Lamb Snack Pack, Pizzas and Jam Donuts. For a full list, including menu items, click here.

Weather:

The forecast for Parramatta on Friday evening is currently fine, with a temperature of around 19C forecast for kick-off, before dropping to 16C. For up to date weather information, please click here.

Transport to and parking near CommBank Stadium:

Attendees are encouraged to make their way to the Stadium via public transport, including bus, train and ferry. Transport is not included in matchday tickets. Plan to get here early using the Transport for NSW Trip Planner.

If you need to drive, please allow extra time for traffic as there will be a large number of people in the area. There is no public parking available on site at the Stadium, but there is a number of public parking stations close to the venue. Booking is strongly recommended where possible. For more information click here.

More information on various council and commercial car parks and car parks for vehicles with mobility parking permits is available here.

Please note: if you are planning to use a taxi or ride share service after the game, there will be a number of road closures in place for up to half an hour after full time.

Entry requirements:

All bags will be subject to the security screening process. To help avoid delays, it’s best to leave your bag at home. On all event days bag sizes are limited to 30x40cm. Umbrellas are permitted but for the comfort of other patrons, they should not be opened in the seating bowl. Food and non-alcoholic beverages may be brought into the stadium. Please note: No glass or cans are permitted. For more information on conditions of entry, please click here.

Enjoy the big game!

 

By Makayla Muscat

There is just one day to go before Western Sydney is energised by tech and arts festival Sound West.

The weeklong festival will run from 20-28 August and will kick-start live entertainment post-COVID, something that is so important from a cultural and business perspective in Western Sydney.

Last month, Sound West revealed a massive program of live events at various venues in Parramatta.

One of those is Linktree cofounder Anthony Zaccaria (pictured above) who will talk about building a global digital business at the one-day conference held at CommBank Stadium on Thursday 25 August.

“I’m stoked to be speaking at Sound West this year alongside such an incredible line-up of talent and to be delving into two topics I’m incredibly passionate about: music and technology,” Anthony said.

“Having launched Linktree as a side-hustle with my brother and best mate over six years ago, I know first-hand the challenges of being an entrepreneur, the unpredictability of leading a new start-up and the journey to growth and global expansion.

“I’m looking forward to sharing the many lessons we’ve learned along the way, and my top tips for anyone looking to build a brand or business themselves.”

Attendees will have access to over thirty sessions and workshops, mentorship, and the opportunity to network with some of Australia’s biggest tech brands.

They will also hear from Masked Wolf, TikTok creator Fonzie Gomez, and tennis champion and Australian of the Year Dylan Alcott AO who will share his experience building the world’s most accessible music festival.

“Sound West is held in the heart of Greater Western Sydney, a region loaded with diverse and incredibly talented artists and creatives,” Dylan said.

“I’m a massive music fan and love a good festival so I’m excited to be here with NEC Australia to share with the industry the vision we have for an inclusive festival with AbilityFest.”

The conference is just one of the 15 ticketed and free events that will unite artists, innovators, creators and entrepreneurs from across the world.

Sound West aims to give brilliant minds, industry leaders and music enthusiasts an opportunity to share ideas and network.

The program has been created through a partnership between Destination NSW, City of Parramatta, Western Sydney Business Connection and Business Western Sydney to support the hospitality, music and entertainment industries.

The festival will showcase established and emerging artists including ONES TO WATCH, Palm Wine, ZPLUTO, and Rhyme2Rhyme.

It all kicks off at CommBank Stadium where rapper Masked Wolf will perform during the Parramatta Eels NRL/NRLW double header.

“I can’t wait to see our local artists and industry professionals take to the Sound West stage,” says Lord Mayor Donna Davis.

“We already have a reputation as a diverse arts and culture hub. Therefore, the fusion of technology with culture creates a unique opportunity to drive innovation in our City.”

For more information, visit the Sound West website.

 

Some of Australia’s brightest innovators in the fields of technology, entertainment and the arts will come together for a conference that could kick-start the night-time economy of Greater Sydney.

The Sound West Conference at CommBank Stadium on Thursday 25 August will connect iconic global and Australian tech brands with artists, musicians and promoters, with the potential to supercharge the creative arts and entertainment spheres in Western Sydney and across Australia.

From former tennis champion and Abilityfest conceptualiser and NEC Ambassador Dylan Alcott OAM to the Co-Founder of Australian unicorn company Linktree, Anthony Zaccaria – attendees will be able to hear and learn from some of the best across the tech, music, and entrepreneurial arenas.

One of those attendees will hear from is Matt Vitale, Co-founder of Birchal, Australia’s equity crowdfunding platform.

Since 2018, Birchal has helped over 125 Australian businesses raise over $90m from their most passionate customers and fans online.

Matt will share the stage with a real life Birchal success story.

“Birchal is thrilled to be participating in the inaugural SoundWest, with Sobah Beverages, Australia’s first non-alcoholic craft beer company, proudly Aboriginal owned and led by Clinton and Lozen Schultz,” he said.

“We hope to inspire the next generation of founders and creators to build communities of engaged supporters, which is possible now through equity crowdfunding.”

Finder Founder and world-famous entrepreneur Fred Schebesta will also present on the on the Sound West Stage, with the AFR Young Rich lister taking to TikTok to express his excitement.

The conference will include more than 30 sessions and workshops, while attendees will also enjoy food by Butter as part of their ticket. Tickets are $59 (+ booking fee) and can be purchased here.

Western Sydney will also host a number of other free and ticketed live music events and experiences as part of Sound West from 20-28 August. It all kicks off at CommBank Stadium where rapper Masked Wolf will perform during the Parramatta Eels NRL/NRLW double header. You can purchase tickets for that event here.

Sound West has been created through a partnership between the NSW Government via Destination NSW, City of Parramatta, Western Sydney Business Connection and Business Western Sydney.

Events like Sound West are an important step to reinvigorating Western Sydney and establishing a night time economy as the area continues to grow.

Scottish football club Rangers FC today announced the Club will not be participating in the Sydney Super Cup in November.

In a statement, TEG Sport and Left Field Live, the co-promoters of the Sydney Super Cup, said: “We were disappointed to wake up this morning to Rangers FC’s statement that it will not be participating in the Sydney Super Cup.

“The Rangers Board committed to these matches following extensive negotiations over eight months. Seemingly in response to negative fan reaction, they have pulled out of their contracted commitment.

“We have worked closely with all stakeholders to bring this exciting event to Sydney and we refute any suggestion that we were unwilling to fulfil our commitments to Rangers. We have acted in good faith and have put the event on sale with a great response from fans here.

“In changing their minds, the Rangers Board has let down many, many fans in Australia and the Asian region. We will now consult with our stakeholders before determining our response.”

Rangers had agreed to play in two matches as part of a four-club Sydney Super Cup event from 16-20 November.

Rangers were also scheduled to play Western Sydney Wanderers at CommBank Stadium on November 16.

They were scheduled to meet Scottish rivals Celtic at Accor Stadium on Sunday 20 November. It was to have been the first time the two clubs had played each other outside of Scotland.

 

Information & tickets at www.sydneysupercup.com.au

Sydney’s stadia infrastructure will be showcased to the world this year with CommBank Stadium, the new Sydney Football Stadium and major events venue Accor Stadium hosting the first instalment of the Sydney Super Cup from 16 – 20 November.

The new four-team mini-series will bring the world’s best football clubs to Sydney in 2022 and 2025 to play A-League clubs Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers, with the inaugural event set to make history as iconic Scottish rivals Celtic FC and Rangers FC play each other outside Scotland for the first time in their 134-year rivalry.

The Western Sydney Wanderers’ first ever football game at CommBank Stadium was against a touring international club in July 2019, when 24,419 fans turned out to witness the clash with Leeds United.

The Wanderers expect to top that attendance record against Scottish giants Rangers.

Minister for Enterprise, Investment and Trade, Minister for Tourism and Sport and Minister for Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said the football event  was a great coup for Sydney.

“Sydney has kicked another goal as Australia’s home of football with the world’s best clubs coming out to play our hometown heroes in the Sydney Super Cup . . . and what better way to start than with a historic rivalry like Rangers and Celtic,” Mr Ayres said.

“This will be the first time in history this iconic match-up has been played outside of Scotland, so this will be a huge attraction for football fans domestically and abroad,

“With three big matches played over five nights, visiting football fans will have an opportunity for an extended stay in the Harbour City, enjoying our vast cultural offerings, and vibrant hospitality and nightlife in one of the world’s great sporting cities.

“The benefits for our city and state will be huge, as we look to bring visitors back to Sydney by creating a regular blockbuster bi-annual event that will showcase our city, our local teams and our world-class stadiums to a global audience.

“The NSW Government is focused on delivering marquee events like the Sydney Super Cup that capture the world’s attention, drive the NSW visitor economy and build Sydney’s reputation as the major events capital of the Asia Pacific.”

The NSW Government has secured the Sydney Super Cup for 2022 and 2025 through its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW in partnership with TEG Live.

General public tickets for the 2022 Sydney Super Cup games go on sale from 2pm Friday at www.sydneysupercup.com.au.

See the full A-Leagues release here

Due to the extreme weather event occurring across New South Wales, Sunday’s Western Sydney Wanderers Double-Header has been postponed.

Heavy rainfall has seen the Parramatta River rise rapidly and increased the level of the surrounding water table, which has left the CommBank Stadium surface unable to drain.

The Stadium will continue to work with the A-Leagues and Western Sydney Wanderers on rescheduled fixtures.

An enchanting line-up of films has been locked in for the third edition of the Disney+ Drive-In at CommBank Stadium.

From Sunday 6 March to Thursday 17 April, the Stadium’s northern carpark will be transformed into a drive-in cinema for the third time and become home to what is one of Sydney’s favourite pastimes.

Following two jam-packed seasons in 2020-2021, the hugely popular Disney+ Drive-In has announced a program that has something for everyone:

CommBank Stadium, Sydney: March 6th 2022 – April 17th 2022

TICKETS ON SALE NOW

Lion King (Animated)
Mulan (Animated)
Frozen
Cars
Ten Things I Hate About You
The Devil Wears Prada
Moana (Sing-Along)
Hercules
Ron’s Gone Wrong
Moulin Rouge
The Greatest Showman
Coco
The Fault In Our Stars
Deadpool
Pretty Woman
The Princess Diaries
Cruella (Live Action)
The Emperor’s New Groove
Ratatouille
Freaky Friday
Mrs Doubtfire
Beauty and The Beast (Live Action)
Encanto
Shang-Chi and the Legend of The Ten Rings
The Parent Trap
The Proposal
Raya and the Last Dragon
Tangled 

Disney+ Drive-In is once again partnering with DoorDash in 2022, giving movie-watchers the opportunity to order meals straight to their car from some of Parramatta and Western Sydney’s best eateries.

A new perk for this year sees the addition of The Park: a new outdoor seating area, presented by DoorDash, where punters can relax on bean loungers under the stars and enjoy table service for food and drinks.

For the full program, tickets and more info head to the OpenAir Cinemas website here.

CommBank Stadium has been honoured at the Western Sydney Awards for Business Excellence (WSABE) by taking home the City of Parramatta Excellence in Customer Service 2021 Award.

The award acknowledges the Stadium’s high performance levels in Customer Service and was presented at a glittering black-tie event at Rosehill Gardens on Wednesday night.

The award was accepted by Stadium CEO Daryl Kerry and Head of Staffing Operations Debbie Hogan, with Mr Kerry saying the WSABE acknowledgement was an outstanding achievement for the Stadium team.

“Our team is committed to delivering the best possible customer experience at each and every event so this was very special recognition indeed for our staff . . . acknowledged for the quality of their work by the very people who use the stadium the most in Western Sydney,” Mr Kerry said.

CommBank Stadium was also a Finalist in the WSABE Excellence in Retail award category.

In total, 128 finalists were shortlisted across 18 award categories in recognition of their outstanding accomplishments across business, export, sustainability, innovation, culture, and many other areas that collectively position Greater Western Sydney as one of Australia’s highest-performing economies.

This year, WSABE achieved a record number of entry engagements and accumulated more than 400 award submissions. We were among 12 Finalists for the Excellence in Customer Service award.

STADIUM AWARDS

The trophy cabinet at CommBank Stadium is growing fast. Built #ForTheFans with the event experience front of mind, the 30,000-seat Stadium has now won 17 awards across architecture and design, construction and engineering, tourism and leisure, sustainability, operations and function since we opened the venue with a Community Open Day in April 2019.

CommBank Stadium’s List of Awards

• Western Sydney Awards for Business Excellence – City of Parramatta Excellence in Customer Service Winner 2021;
• Western Sydney Awards for Business Excellence –  WSABE Retail Excellence Finalist;
• Australian Steel Institute’s NSW Steel Excellence Award for large projects;
• Master Builder Association of NSW Award for Sporting Facilities;
• Master Builder Association of NSW Award for Excellence in Environment;
• Good Design Award Gold Accolade in the Architectural Design Commercial and Residential category;
• Best Commercial Architecture: 2020 NSW Architecture Awards;
• Colorbond Award for Steel Architecture: 2020 NSW Architecture Awards;
• NSW People’s Choice Award for Life in 2020: NSW Architecture Awards;
• LEED v4 Gold Certification from the US Green Building Council: First Stadium in the world to announce LEED v4 Gold standard for sustainable design.
• Silver Medal: Stadium Database Stadium of the Year Awards 2019:
• 2019 Project of the Year – Joint Winner: BOOMTOWN! Property & Infrastructure Awards;
• Outstanding Sports & Major Events Project for 2019– BOOMTOWN! Property & Infrastructure Awards;
• Australia’s Best Rectangular Stadium– Austadiums Stadium Of The Year Awards 2019;
• National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) Excellence Award– Stowe Australia for Bankwest Stadium.

To be announced 15 December:

• Finalist: 2021 Property Council of Australia/Rider Levett Bucknall Innovation & Excellence Awards – Best Sustainable Development (New Buildings);
• Finalist: 2021 Property Council of Australia/Rider Levett Bucknall Innovation & Excellence Awards – Best Tourism & Leisure Development.

See the full Football Australia Media Release here

Football Australia has today announced that tickets are set to go on sale in the week commencing 11 October for the upcoming international friendlies between the Commonwealth Bank Matildas and Brazil at CommBank Stadium.

For the first time since their record-breaking performances at Tokyo 2020, the Commonwealth Bank Matildas will be playing on home soil in a two-game series against the South Americans at CommBank Stadium on Saturday, 23 October and Tuesday, 26 October.

Kick-off for the 23 October match is scheduled for 7:45pm AEDT, while the Tuesday night fixture on 26 October is set for 8:00pm AEDT.

The games were given the green light last month after Football Australia’s comprehensive Quarantine Management Plan – based on global best practice, and a first of its kind of any international sporting codes in Australia – was approved by the NSW Government.

In line with the current NSW Government Health Orders, both games will have a reduced capacity and only those who live in the Greater Sydney region (which includes the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong & Shellharbour) are eligible to attend.

It is also compulsory for all adult ticket holders (aged 16+) to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

An initial allocation of tickets will be made available to Football Account holders via a pre-sale window on Monday, 11 October at 2:00pm AEDT, with further tickets released on sale to the general public from Tuesday, 12 October at 2:00pm AEDT.

Fans can register for priority ticketing access by registering for a Football Account and selecting the relevant preferences.

Fans wishing to attend the two-match series against Brazil will be required to comply with the following stipulations:

• Under the NSW Government Reopening Road Map and current Public Health Orders, only fans who live in the Greater Sydney region are eligible to attend these games
  (Greater Sydney includes the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong & Shellharbour);
• Under NSW Health orders, all adult ticket holders (16+) will need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19;
• All ticket holders (16+) will need to complete an acknowledgement during the ticket purchasing process to confirm that everyone in their group is fully vaccinated against COVID-19;
• All ticket holders (16+) will need to provide evidence of their COVID-19 vaccination status prior to entering the Stadium. Children under 16 years of age do not need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, however, must be accompanied by a person who is a member of the child’s household and is a fully vaccinated against COVID-19;
• All ticket holders will need to provide a unique name and mobile number to comply with NSW Government contact tracing requirements. Minors/dependants may use the same mobile number.

Further information on transport, stadium access and requirements for fans in the venue will be available in the coming days.

The upcoming Matildas v Brazil international friendly matches are supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW.

For all the latest news and information regarding the two-games series, stay updated via the official Commonwealth Bank Matildas website.

Commonwealth Bank Matildas v Brazil
Date: Saturday, 23 October
Venue: CommBank Stadium, Sydney
Time: Kick-off 7:45pm AEDT
Tickets: Football Account pre-sale begins Monday, 11 October at 2:00pm AEDT.
General public tickets on sale from Tuesday, 12 October at 12:00pm AEDT.

Commonwealth Bank Matildas v Brazil
Date: Tuesday, 26 October
Venue: CommBank Stadium, Sydney
Time: Kick-off 8:00pm AEDT
Tickets: Football Account pre-sale begins Monday, 11 October at 2:00pm AEDT.
General public tickets on sale from Tuesday, 12 October at 12:00pm AEDT.

While Bankwest Stadium is best known as the home ground of world-class sport and entertainment, it is also a beacon of light and hope in Western Sydney, glowing brightly in support of major community awareness campaigns.

Bankwest Stadium lights up for different events and causes several times each month becoming a regular feature of the Parramatta night-time landscape. The stadium was designed with a technological focus, making it easy to light up the external facade, and the halo fabric roof with just the press of a button.

The Stadium, with the ability to change colours at the flick of a switch, has glowed

• Purple in recognition of International Women’s Day on 8 March
• Yellow in support of National Road Safety Week on 16, 20, 21 May
• Blue and Green in support of Neurofibromatosis Awareness on 17 May
• Orange to support the State Emergency Services’ WOW (Wear Orange Wednesday) campaign on 19 May
• Red for World Hemochromatosis Week on 1 June
• And we’ll be glowing Pink for DonateLife Week on 26 July.

Bankwest Stadium is proud to be a centre of celebration for community and cultural events and are also great supporters of community and charitable causes.