Changing rooms at Sydney’s Accor Stadium get major upgrade ahead of FIFA Women’s World Cup

Accor Stadium’s athlete change rooms, officials area and media conference room have undergone a multimillion-dollar upgrade ahead of the venue’s first NRL games for the season and in the countdown to the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 in July and August.

Having hosted almost 500,000 fans during the summer concert season, Accor Stadium has transitioned from major concert venue to sporting arena ahead of an exciting winter of events.

The upgrade of facilities was designed by the original architects of the stadium, Populous, and has created four gender-neutral change rooms suitable for all codes, along with new recovery pools.

Adding to the match-day zone and home ground feel is the ability for every team to bring their club or national identity to life, quickly and efficiently using new lighting infrastructure.

Officials and media will also enjoy new and improved facilities with upgrades to the officials’ change rooms, match-day office and medical areas, as well as the media conference room on Level 0.

Venues NSW Chief Executive Kerrie Mather said it’s the last stage of an $81.4 million investment in upgrades at the Sydney venue ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.

Mather advised “we have invested significantly in Sydney’s major event stadium, Accor Stadium, to enhance the spectator experience for the millions of fans who attend live events each year.

“It’s fantastic to extend that world-class experience to the areas used by our athletes, officials and media, providing the very best event-day environment possible.

“We’ve just witnessed arguably the biggest concert season ever, and there’s a lot more to look forward to at Accor Stadium with rugby league returning before the FIFA Women’s World Cup comes to town.”

Venues NSW has also completed Accor Stadium’s roof and primary structure restoration project to extend the longevity of the venue, while supporting the potential installation of a retractable roof in the future.

In preparation for the return of winter codes to Accor Stadium, Head Curator Graeme Logan and his grounds team have completed a full pitch turf replacement, upgraded the arena irrigation system and installed the NRL posts in the countdown to the Rabbitohs v Sea Eagles Round 4 NRL fixture this Saturday night.

Logan stated “we have come through our major concert period in good shape and rolled out ready-to-play turf as we welcome back NRL footy.

“We have had this pitch growing in Western Sydney in preparation for the football season. The posts are now up and it’s all systems go for a big season ahead.”

Accor Stadium is gearing up for a series of matches, highlighted by an NRL double-header at Easter featuring the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs v South Sydney Rabbitohs on Good Friday 7th April and Wests Tigers v Parramatta Eels on Easter Monday 10th April.

This will be followed by a potentially series-deciding State of Origin Game 3 on Wednesday 12th July.

With the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Immediately following State of Origin, Accor Stadium will be hosting the CommBank Matildas’ opening night game against the Republic of Ireland on Thursday 20th July, along with four major games including the World Cup Final on Sunday 20th August.

Accor Stadium will revert to its generic name Stadium Australia for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ under FIFA regulations.

Images: Young Matildas Abbey Lemon and Sarah Hunter in the new Accor Stadium change rooms (top), the new change rooms (middle) and the players on the Accor Stadium playing surface (below). Credit: Ayush Kumar.