If you’ve got tickets at the arena everyone still calls Qudos Bank Arena, here’s the short version: you’re going to the same bowl-shaped venue at Sydney Olympic Park, it just wears a different sponsor’s name on the door now. The seats, the floor, the loading docks, the walk from the train station — none of that changed.
This guide covers both sides of that story: the Olympic history and naming eras that make Qudos Bank Arena one of Sydney’s most-searched venue names, plus the practical stuff — capacity, seating, parking, bag rules and how to actually get there — for anyone with a show to attend this week.
Quick Answer
Qudos Bank Arena is no longer the venue’s current name. Since July 23, 2026, it has operated as Afterpay Arena under a new five-year naming rights deal, though it’s the exact same building, seating bowl and Sydney Olympic Park location fans know from the Qudos Bank era. Existing Qudos Bank Arena tickets, directions and bookings all still work — nothing about the venue itself has changed.
From Olympic Venue to Touring Powerhouse
The arena was built at a reported cost of about $200 million and opened as the Sydney SuperDome in November 1999, in time to host basketball finals and gymnastics at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Its bowl design and large floor capacity made it a natural fit for both elite sport and arena concerts, and it quickly became the default Sydney stop for major international touring acts, alongside home games for the Sydney Kings basketball team.
The venue changed sponsor names several times over the following two decades, moving from Acer Arena (2006) to Allphones Arena (2011) before Qudos Bank secured naming rights in April 2016. During that near-decade-long Qudos Bank era, the arena remained Australia’s largest permanent indoor entertainment venue and a fixture on global touring schedules, hosting everyone from Kylie Minogue to Metallica, Taylor Swift and Beyoncé.
The 2026 Rebrand to Afterpay Arena
Afterpay announced its naming rights partnership in May 2026, and the venue officially relaunched as Afterpay Arena on July 23, 2026, with a launch event and ribbon-cutting ceremony. For about 12 months after the switch, the venue is being billed as “Afterpay Arena, formerly known as Qudos Bank Arena” specifically to help fans find it during the transition.
Practically, the rebrand changes nothing about your visit: tickets bought under the Qudos Bank Arena name remain fully valid, digital tickets have simply updated to show the new name, and printed tickets don’t need to be reissued. Ticketing continues to run through Ticketek, and the venue’s address and seating layout are unchanged.
Capacity and Seating
The arena holds up to around 21,000 people for a full concert configuration, making it Australia’s largest indoor entertainment venue, while seated sporting events like basketball and netball typically use a smaller configuration of roughly 18,000. The exact layout shifts show to show depending on staging, general admission floor space and whether the upper bowl is fully opened.
Seating runs in numbered tiers around the bowl, with lower-level seats closest to the floor and upper-level seats offering a more elevated, wide-angle view of the stage end. Because configurations change by promoter and tour, always check the specific seating map attached to your event listing on Ticketek rather than a generic chart, as row and section numbering can differ between a concert, a basketball game and a boxing card.
Planning Your Visit: Parking, Transport and Tickets
Parking is managed centrally by Sydney Olympic Park rather than the arena itself, with thousands of car spaces across the precinct. The largest and closest option is the P1 car park adjoining the arena, with several other lots within about a 10-minute walk; on nights with multiple events in the precinct, free shuttle buses run between the arena and the operational car parks.
By public transport, the closest stop is Olympic Park train station, a short walk from the arena, with Sydney Trains running frequent services from Lidcombe on event days. Buses and a Parramatta River ferry service to nearby Wentworth Point (connected on by a short bus ride) are also options if you’re coming from the city or Parramatta. Because Olympic Park gets busy on event nights, arrive early and allow extra travel time.
Tickets for all events are sold through Ticketek, and the box office opens when doors open (or earlier if your event includes an early-entry VIP package). For current event listings, exact parking rates, opening times and the live seating map for your specific show, check the official Afterpay Arena website, which is the authoritative source now that the venue has rebranded.
Bag Policy and Entry Rules
The venue runs a strict bag policy at all events: backpacks of any size are not permitted, and bags must be no larger than A4 (roughly 20cm x 30cm), with purses and handbags kept under A5 (about 20cm x 15cm). Clear bags are encouraged, and all bags are searched on arrival.
If you need to carry medication such as an EpiPen or insulin pen that wouldn’t normally fit the bag limits, tell security when you arrive — your bag can be tagged so staff know you’ve been cleared to bring it in. As with seating and parking, double-check the entry conditions for your specific event, since some tours or sporting codes add extra restrictions on top of the venue’s standard rules.
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qudos bank arena FAQs
Is Qudos Bank Arena still called that?
No. Since July 23, 2026, the venue has officially operated as Afterpay Arena under a new five-year naming rights deal, after being Qudos Bank Arena from April 2016 to June 2026. It’s the same building and seating bowl at Sydney Olympic Park, just under new signage.
Do old Qudos Bank Arena tickets still work at Afterpay Arena?
Yes. Tickets purchased under the Qudos Bank Arena name remain fully valid for your event. Digital tickets have automatically updated to show the new venue name, and printed tickets don’t need to be reissued or reprinted.
How many people does the arena hold for concerts?
The venue holds up to around 21,000 people in its maximum concert configuration, making it Australia’s largest indoor entertainment venue. Seated sporting events like basketball and netball typically use a smaller configuration of roughly 18,000.
Where do you park for a show at Afterpay Arena (Qudos Bank Arena)?
Parking is run by Sydney Olympic Park across thousands of precinct-wide spaces, with the closest and largest being the P1 car park next to the arena. Other car parks are within about a 10-minute walk, and free shuttle buses run on nights with multiple events. Check the official venue site for current rates and booking.
What’s the closest train station to the arena?
Olympic Park train station, a short walk from the venue, with Sydney Trains running frequent services from Lidcombe on event days. It’s the easiest way to get there and avoids precinct parking and traffic on busy nights.
What bags are allowed inside?
Bags must be no larger than A4 size, with purses and handbags under A5, and backpacks of any size are not permitted. All bags are searched on entry, and clear bags are recommended. Tell security on arrival if you need to carry medical items like an EpiPen.
What was the arena originally called?
It opened in November 1999 as the Sydney SuperDome, built for the 2000 Sydney Olympics, before later being renamed Acer Arena (2006), then Allphones Arena (2011), then Qudos Bank Arena (2016), and now Afterpay Arena (2026).
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