Perth Rectangular Stadium


Perth Rectangular Stadium is a sports stadium in Perth, the capital of the Australian state of Western Australia. Located close to Perth's central business district, the stadium currently has a maximum capacity of 20,500 people for sporting events and 25,000 people for concerts, with the ground's record attendance of 32,000 people set during an Ed Sheeran concert in 2015.
The land on which the stadium was built, known as Loton Park, was made a public reserve in 1904, with the main ground developed several years later. From 1910 until 2003, it was known as Perth Oval and was the home ground of the East Perth Football Club in the West Australian Football League. It hosted several of the competition's grand finals during that time. In 2004, the ground was redeveloped, altering it from an oval field to a rectangular field.
The ground is currently home to two major professional sporting clubs: Perth Glory FC, a soccer team competing in the A-League, and the Western Force, a rugby union team playing in the Super Rugby Pacific competition. It will also be home to the Perth Bears, a rugby league team entering the National Rugby League in 2027.

Current use

The stadium is currently used for hosting sports events and concerts.

Sport

In sports mode the stadium has a capacity of around 20,500. Soccer club Perth Glory has played at the ground since 1996. The stadium is unusual among modern Australian stadiums for having a standing terrace at the northern end of the ground, called 'The Shed'.
The ground has hosted rugby union team Western Force since 2010. The Force's move to the stadium led to a minor redevelopment of facilities at the ground, including an increase in capacity and improved lighting.
For 2008 the stadium hosted WA Reds home matches in the Bundaberg Red Cup.
Since 2009, there have been annual NRL games played at the oval, generally as South Sydney Rabbitohs home games, with the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles joining in 2016. The stadium has housed the administrative facilities of the Western Australia Rugby League since 2003. The stadium will become the home ground of the newly formed NRL team the Perth Bears from 2027.
In 2015, the stadium hosted a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier between Australia and Bangladesh, the first A-international in Perth in over a decade.
The stadium was one of the host venues for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Concerts

The capacity for concerts is now over 25,000. A record 32,000 crowd attended the Ed Sheeran concert in 2015.

History

Early history

The land on which the stadium is built was known as Loton's Paddock after the previous owner William Loton, Lord Mayor of Perth. The paddock had been reclaimed from part of Stone's Lake, which was part of a lake system known as The Great Lakes District which included Lake Monger and Herdsman Lake.
Loton sold the land to the City of Perth in 1904 with the purpose of providing recreation for the residents of the area. After the 2004 redevelopment, part of the ground reverted to public open space and the original name, Loton Park was re-applied, to honour Loton, and, the Noongar name for the former lake.
Lacrosse was one of the main sports played on the oval from the early 1900s to the 1940s, being the home of the WA Lacrosse Association during this time. Australian rules football was also occasionally played on the oval from 1905.
In the early 1930s large white entry gates were built on the north west corner of the ground. These have since been heritage listed.

Soccer

was an early tenant at Loton Park, playing regular matches as early as 1903, when over 2,000 spectators attended a Charity Cup match between Olympic FC and Civil Service.
In 1905 the land was offered to the Western Australian British Football Association for £2,000, equivalent to in, but the asking price was considered too high.
The venue was the scene of a humiliation in 1927 when the WA state team were thrashed 11–3 by Bohemians, a team representing Czechoslovakia.
Prior to the 2004 redevelopment, the venue was oval-shaped and, when Perth Glory entered the National Soccer League in 1996, temporary stands were moved on to the pitch to get supporters closer to the action. After playing in these conditions for four years, it became apparent that the Glory would need their own rectangular stadium and, after Glory's proposed redevelopment of Leederville Oval was rejected, the Town of Vincent completely overhauled the ground into a rectangular stadium.
The venue hosted the 2014 W-League semi-final and grand final matches involving Perth Glory Women.
2015 saw the return of the Australia national soccer team to Perth after a 10-year absence, with a 5–0 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier win against Bangladesh on 3 September, in front of a 19,495-strong crowd. The following year on 1 September the Socceroos returned for another World Cup qualifier against Iraq, with 18,923 in attendance. The stadium was due to host a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Kuwait in 2020; however, the COVID-19 pandemic meant that this did not go ahead. In 2024, the stadium will host a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Palestine.
Perth Rectangular Stadium was selected to host several group stage matches of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. The venue received a $32 million upgrade before the tournament, which included new LED floodlighting, upgrades of player and media facilities, pitch improvements, new player races and bench areas, and additional temporary seating for spectators.

Men's international soccer

Women's international soccer

2023 FIFA Women's World Cup
The venue hosted five group stage matches of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.
GameDateTeamResultTeamAttendancePart of
122 July 20231–016,9892023 FIFA Women's World Cup Group D
226 July 20232–117,0652023 FIFA Women's World Cup Group B
329 July 20230–115,9872023 FIFA Women's World Cup Group F
41 August 20230–217,8972023 FIFA Women's World Cup Group D
53 August 20231–017,3422023 FIFA Women's World Cup Group H
2024 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament
Perth hosted six international matches over three match days as part of the second round of Asian qualifiers for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Perth Rectangular Stadium was originally scheduled to host all three match days however the second match day involving matches between Philippines and Australia, and Iran and Chinese Taipei was moved to larger capacity Perth Stadium due to strong demand.
GameDateTeamResultTeamAttendance
126 October 20231–42,725
226 October 20232–018,798
51 November 20231–03,111
61 November 20233–019,084
2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup
Perth will host 10 games at the upcoming 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup. 8 matches, including 2 quarter-final matches will be held at the Rectangular Stadium, with the opening game and one semi-final to be held at Perth Stadium.
GameDateTeamResultTeamAttendance
14 March 2026–
24 March 2026–-
37 March 2026–
47 March 2026–-
59 March 2026–
610 March 2026–
713 March 20262A–2B
814 March 20261B–2C

Australian rules football

club East Perth Football Club moved to Perth Oval from Wellington Square in 1910, and played at the ground until 1999 except in 1940 due to a dispute with the Perth City Council over rents, and in 1988 and 1989 when the WAFL attempted an unsuccessful move to the WACA. After the Royals played their last match at the ground, they permanently moved away in 2003.
In 1956 the F.D. Book Stand was built as part of East Perth Football Club's golden jubilee celebrations. It was named after administrator Fred Book, who was instrumental in ensuring Perth Oval stayed as a sporting ground during World War II.
The ground was briefly used as a home base for East Perth's WAFL rivals West Perth and Perth. Six West Australian Football League Grand Finals were played at Perth Oval, the first being in 1912 and the last in 1935.

Cricket

The venue was home to Western Australian Grade Cricket teams North Perth and. North Perth played at the oval between 1910 and 1975 and between 1913 and 1929.

Rugby union

Rugby was played at the venue as early as 1905.
The ground has occasionally been used by the Western Australian Rugby Union to host state league finals matches at least as far back as 1940.
Perth Spirit played at the venue during the 2007 Australian Rugby Championship.
Perth Rectangular Stadium has been the home of the Western Force since 2010.
GameDateTeamResultTeamAttendanceCompetition
19 September 201723–2317,5282017 Rugby Championship
217 September 201636–2016,2022016 Rugby Championship