Perth Sporting Events: Your Guide to Visiting for the AFL and Cricket

AFL, cricket, soccer, rugby… Perth has a high-energy, action-packed year-round calendar of major sports events. 

It might be far from the east coast, but Perth is in the thick of the action for Australia’s favourite sporting codes, from AFL to international rugby, cricket fixtures or soccer tournaments, on the local and international scene. 

Find out more about Perth’s sports stadiums, as well as and some handy tips for getting around and where to stay when you're in town for the top sporting events in Perth. 

Rivalry between Australia and New Zealand hits fever pitch during the Bledisloe Cup, the peak rugby union clash between the Wallabies and the All Blacks. It's been running for nearly a century and shows no sign of slowing down: watch Ticketek for ticket on-sale dates, as seats sell out quickly.  

Perth is neutral territory for the State of Origin, the three-match NRL face-off between NSW and Queensland, and draws an enthusiastic crowd at Optus Stadium when the Blues and Maroons come to town.  

Along with the rest of the country, Perth goes tennis-mad during the Australian summer of tennis, when the United Cup draws international players to the major Australian cities in January each year, ahead of the Australian Open. 

Summer is also the season for cricket, with Ashes fever taking over the city when Australia and the United Kingdom’s historic rivalry takes to the pitch every two years. The Ashes is traditionally played between November and January, setting Optus Stadium alight when Perth is the host, with tickets through Ticketek. 

The AFL season runs from March to September each year, and there are two names to know when you’re talking AFL in sports-mad Perth, the West Coast Eagles and the Fremantle FC - just call them the ‘Dockers’ like everybody else does. Matches are held at the Optus Stadium, and it’s always packed! 

Fans of top-level mixed martial arts competitions are happy to see the rise in Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) events in Perth; Ticketek is the official channel for ticket sales. 

Address: 333 Victoria Park Dr, Burswood

Capacity: 60,000

Optus Stadium, also known as Perth Stadium, is Perth’s biggest stadium. Optus Stadium is home to Perth’s two AFL teams, the West Coast Eagles and The Fremantle FC, and is the city’s top sporting venue. It’s where you’ll come to see the Bledisloe Cup, the Big Bash cricket, even the AFL Grand Finals, not to mention headline music concerts or maybe some drag bingo.

And it’s not just a workhorse, the stadium has even won beauty competitions as the world’s most beautiful sporting facility at the Prix Versailles architecture awards. East of the city centre, Optus Stadium is set on parklands with walking tracks and barbeques – for a different view of the stadium, take a walking tour of the precinct with a Warrang-Bridil guide on an Aboriginal cultural tour. Western Australia's top venue replaces the smaller Subiaco Oval, which closed in 2017.

Good to know: The stadium has its own bus station and train station, called Perth Stadium; use the Transperth app to plan your trip. Walkers and cyclists can reach the stadium from East Perth via the car-free Matagarup Bridge. To arrive in style, the Little Ferry Co’s boats stop at the Burswood Jetty.

Where to stay near Optus Stadium: Set on the Swan River, ibis Styles East Perth is approximately 10 minutes drive from Perth’s biggest stadium, and its family rooms are ideal if you're bringing the whole team. 

Capacity: 20,500

Address: 310 Pier St, Perth

Perth’s only rectangular stadium, you’ll find rugby league, rugby union, and soccer kicking off at HBF Park, as well as plenty of big-name music concerts. The city goes off when the Matildas come to town for such competitions as the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia.

The new Perth Bears will join Western Force rugby and Perth Glory football teams in calling the stadium home when they enter the NRL in 2027. There are plenty of bars and food outlets at the HBF Park; bring your card as it’s a cashless venue. HBF Park is also known as Perth Rectangular Stadium.

Good to know: Tickets to sporting events at HBF Park include travel on all Transperth services for three hours before, during and three hours after the event.

Where to stay near HBF Park: Just nine minutes from the stadium, ibis Perth is one of the best hotels near HBF Park.

Capacity: 14,000

Address: 700 Wellington St, Perth

Set right in the heart of the CBD, RAC Arena draws the crowds to its major sporting events and live music performances. The indoor sports stadium is the homeground for the West Coast Fever netball team and also the Perth Wildcats basketball team, and is ground zero for the NBL’s Ignite Cup.

RAC Arena also lights up for UFC Fight Nights, which sees world heavyweights head into town. And if there’s a major tennis tournament in town, you’ll be putting the RAC Arena in your GPS.

If your ticket has a Transperth logo on it, it includes free public transport three hours before and three hours after the event. Food served at the stadium includes burgers, wraps, ice-cream, and drinks.

Where to stay near RAC Arena: It’s just a three-minute drive or less than 10 minutes’ walk from ibis Perth to the RAC Arena. 

Good to know: Ticketek is the only legit ticket seller for events at RAC Arena, including accessible tickets.

Capacity: 10,000

Address: Cnr Hay & Braithwaite St, East Perth

Love cricket, love the WACA! The Western Australian Cricket Association's stadium has been pulling in the crowds since 1890, hosting Test cricket in Perth since 1970.

The major men’s Big Bash matches are now played at the larger Optus Stadium, but the WACA, which has enjoyed a sweet, state-of-the-art facelift, continues to host the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) as well as state cricket, including the Sheffield Shield and the Women’s National Cricket League, with first-class, day-night Test matches on the calendar.

Where to stay near the WACA: It’s an easy, eight-minute walk along the Queen’s Garden and through parklands from ibis Styles East Perth to the WACA. 

Good to know: The WACA is serviced by Transperth CAT buses.

Address: Cnr Anketell Road & Rockingham Rd, Kwinana Beach

Capacity: 15,000

Nothing beats the smell of burning rubber at Perth Motorplex, the top venue for motorsports in Western Australia. Drag racing and speedway rule the roads from October through to April, while street drag racing runs September through to May each year. For Australia’s richest speedway race, buy a three-day pass to see the best sprintcars performing at the High Limit International event in December.       

Where to stay near Perth Motorplex: The motorsports venue is south of the city, 30 minutes' drive from both ibis Styles East Perth and  ibis Perth.

Good to know: The Motorplex has free general parking as well as paid, premium parking spaces.

Capacity: 22,000

Address: 740 Old Perth Rd, Bassendean 

It’s all about Aussie Rules at Steel Blue Oval, which you’ll also hear called Bassendean Oval. Home to the Swans Districts Football Club for both the men’s and women’s leagues, the heartland for the Swans, and key to the community's identity. Check the Intix website for upcoming fixtures and to buy tickets; the footy season runs March to September each year.

Where to stay near Steel Blue Oval: Located in north-eastern Perth, Steel Blue Oval is 25 minutes from both ibis Styles East Perth and the ibis Perth. 

Good to know: The oval is a short walk from the Success Hill and Bassendean train stations.