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| Perth Rectangular Stadium | |
|---|---|
| Name | Perth Rectangular Stadium |
| Native name | HBF Park |
| Location | Perth, Western Australia |
| Opened | 2004 (redeveloped) |
| Owner | VenuesWest |
| Capacity | 20,500 |
| Surface | Grass |
| Dimensions | 120 × 78 m |
Perth Rectangular Stadium is a major sporting venue in Perth, Western Australia, primarily configured for rectangular sports such as rugby league, rugby union, association football, and A-League Men. Located adjacent to the Perth central business district and the Swan River, the venue has hosted domestic club fixtures, international test matches, and concert events. The stadium is managed by the Western Australian venue authority and sits within a precinct that includes public transport links and sporting infrastructure.
The site originated as part of the WACA Ground precinct and evolved through municipal initiatives involving the City of Perth and the Government of Western Australia. Early 20th‑century sports on nearby grounds included fixtures by Western Australia cricket team and touring sides such as England cricket team and West Indies cricket team. Redevelopment proposals in the late 1990s coincided with strategic plans by the Western Australian Institute of Sport and the state’s major events strategy overseen by agencies like Tourism Western Australia and WA Sport and Recreation. Construction for the rectangular configuration was completed ahead of the 2004 season, supported by capital investment from the Barnett Ministry and administered by the state infrastructure agency alongside the stadium operator VenuesWest. The venue’s opening matches featured teams from the A-League and the National Rugby League expansion discussions that involved stakeholders such as Perth Glory FC and representatives from the Australian Rugby Union.
Architectural work on the stadium was undertaken by firms experienced with Australian sporting facilities, drawing on precedents set by stadia such as AAMI Park and Marvel Stadium. The rectangular footprint was selected to maximize sightlines for sports governed by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association and the International Rugby Board. Structural engineers coordinated with acoustic consultants to balance crowd noise for music events staged by promoters like Live Nation and TEG. Materials selection reflected local climate resilience, with roofing and seating arrangements informed by standards from the Australian Building Codes Board and sustainability guidance from entities including Green Building Council of Australia. The design also integrated player facilities aligned with regulations from Football Federation Australia and the Rugby League International Federation.
Perth Rectangular Stadium features a natural grass playing surface meeting specifications comparable to international venues used by the FIFA World Cup qualifiers and Rugby World Cup warm‑ups. The stadium’s seating bowl accommodates approximately 20,500 spectators with corporate suites used by organisations such as Qantas corporate partners and local businesses. Hospitality spaces have hosted dining and function setups catering to delegations from institutions like University of Western Australia and sporting federations. Training and recovery amenities include physiotherapy rooms equipped to standards adopted by professional clubs such as Perth Glory FC and visiting squads from the New Zealand All Blacks and England national football team for exhibition fixtures. Media facilities meet broadcast requirements for networks including Fox Sports, Network Ten, SBS Sport, and international rights holders.
Primary tenants have included Perth Glory FC for A-League Men competition and the Western Force during occasions when rugby union fixtures were scheduled; the stadium has also hosted State of Origin promotional matches and test fixtures involving the Australian national rugby league team and touring sides like Great Britain national rugby league team. The venue has staged international friendlies featuring clubs from the English Football League and touring national teams preparing for tournaments sanctioned by CONMEBOL and AFC. Concerts and community events have attracted artists promoted by Frontier Touring and charities associated with organisations such as St Vincent de Paul Society. The stadium serves as a location for Perth preseason tournaments used by clubs from the A-League and visiting international clubs from the English Premier League and Major League Soccer on arranged exhibition tours.
The stadium is accessible via the Perth public transport network operated by Transperth, with nearby rail access provided by the Perth railway station precinct and bus services routed along arterial corridors such as Roe Street and Wellington Street. Event-day traffic coordination has been managed with the City of Perth traffic engineering teams and the Western Australia Police Force for crowd control. Parking in the precinct interacts with facilities at WACA Ground and nearby commercial car parks managed by private operators and the state parking authority. For air travel connections, the stadium is typically reached from Perth Airport via shuttle services and taxi operators regulated by the Department of Transport (Western Australia).
Planning for incremental upgrades has been discussed in strategic documents from VenuesWest and the State Infrastructure Strategy with proposals to enhance seating, corporate hospitality, and broadcast infrastructure to match emerging standards of the A-League and international federations such as FIFA and World Rugby. Stakeholder consultations have involved local elected representatives from the City of Perth, cultural agencies like the Western Australian Museum, tourism bodies such as Destination Perth, and sporting bodies including Football Australia. Future upgrades under consideration include improved active transport links promoted by Public Transport Authority (Western Australia) and sustainability initiatives in line with policy frameworks from the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (Western Australia). Ongoing negotiations over naming rights and commercial partnerships involve national brands and event promoters such as Qudos Bank Arena counterpart deals previously secured by major Australian venues.
Category:Sports venues in Perth, Western Australia