Hotels and entertainment precincts tipped for NSW stadium sites
Hotels next to NSW’s biggest stadiums? That could be on the cards, with the Minns Government poised to introduce a law change that would let Venues NSW develop visitor stays — and even some residential — across land it controls.
The tweak would open the door for all-year-round precincts wrapped around key sports and entertainment hubs in Western Sydney, Newcastle and the Illawarra.
Sport and Tourism Minister Steve Kamper called the Venues NSW network a “massive opportunity”.
“This one small change will have a lasting impact which will unlock the potential of our state’s premier stadiums and entertainment centre as vibrant and cohesive precincts, building on the government’s decision to increase the concert cap at our stadia,” Kamper said. “NSW is in need of new accommodation offerings and what better way of realising our targets than by providing new hotel offerings on the lands of our favourite sport and entertainment venues.”
Venues NSW currently stewards more than $4 billion in public community assets, hosting about 500 major events a year and drawing over five million attendees. That portfolio includes WIN Stadium and WIN Entertainment Centre in the Illawarra, and Parramatta’s CommBank Stadium, which accommodates up to 30,000 fans.
Business NSW boss Dan Hunter reckons the change would be a catalyst for private investment and would “supercharge accommodation and hospitality development”.
“It will drive economic activity and hopefully spur further investment in these important sporting assets,” he said. “Newcastle’s Broadmeadow precinct, for example, presents a huge opportunity for a new entertainment centre buttressed by accommodation, business and residential development.”
Up in Newcastle, the final business case is done for the 63-hectare Hunter Park vision. Renders obtained by NewsWire show a glossy mixed-use plan featuring a hotel, retail and commercial tenancies, plus an event space.
Hunter also pointed to Western Sydney momentum.
“A similar proposal has been developed by Parramatta Eels near CommBank Stadium and it will be important that all landowners can work together collaboratively to achieve an integrated precinct and a great place outcome,” Hunter said. “These sites represent some of the biggest commercial opportunities on the east coast. Let’s make the most of them so we can grow our collective prosperity.”
The Property Council is on board, too. NSW Executive Director Anita Hugo said: “This is a sensible, future-focused move that recognises the value of integrating accommodation, entertainment and transport. Unlocking land around venues like these will help those precincts grow as entertainment hubs and employment centres – creating new opportunities for local businesses and the visitor economy.”
She added the reform would broaden demand beyond match days: “These are valuable assets that have an important role to play in improving productivity.”
Jonathan Jackson, 13th November 2025
