The Optus Stadium Tour

Big stadiums have small stories. The Optus Stadium Tour lets you see how Perth’s major sporting venue works from the inside, with access to team changerooms, coaching areas, media rooms, lounges, and some of the best views over the Swan River and Perth skyline. I especially like the access to areas normally closed to the public and the way guides such as Bruce, Terri, Keith, Rocco, and Lindsay turn technical details into an easy, entertaining story. The main drawback is that 90 minutes can feel a little short when the group is moving between so many spaces.

I also like that this is not limited to football fans. You can sit on the benches at ground level, see how the stadium changes for different sports and events, and learn about Western Australian sporting memorabilia. At $25.10 per person, it offers solid value, though food and drinks are not included and the tour involves a fair amount of walking.

Key things to know before you go

• You enter the changerooms of three major teams: See spaces used by the Fremantle Dockers, West Coast Eagles, and Perth Scorchers.
• The highest viewing point brings the best skyline views: Look down over the field while taking in the Swan River and Perth city.
• The tour covers more than the playing surface: Expect coaches’ rooms, media facilities, corporate areas, warm-up zones, recovery spaces, and spas.
• Guides make a major difference: Bruce, Terri, Keith, Rocco, Lindsay, Bob, Crystaline, and others have been praised for warmth, humor, and clear explanations.
• It works for most ages and abilities: Lifts connect the levels, and most people can take part, but children must be with an adult.
• A small group keeps the tour manageable: Numbers are capped at 25, so you should be able to hear the guide and fit into each room.

Starting behind Gate D at Optus Stadium

Your meeting point is behind Gate D, beneath the City View Cafe. That detail matters because Optus Stadium is a large place, and arriving at the wrong entrance could mean a needless walk around the outside. I would allow enough time to find Gate D without rushing, especially if you are unfamiliar with the venue.

The tour lasts about 1 hour and 30 minutes. You receive a mobile ticket, and confirmation comes at the time of booking. The group can include up to 25 people, a useful limit for a tour that moves through locker rooms, lounges, offices, and viewing areas.

A host or guide leads the walk, explaining how the stadium operates and answering questions along the way. The strongest part of the experience is the human touch. Guides including Terri, Keith, Rocco, Bruce, and Lindsay have been singled out for their patience, good humor, and ability to explain the venue without making the tour feel like a technical lecture.

You should wear suitable clothing for the conditions. The tour operates in all weather, and the stadium’s size means you will be on your feet and moving between levels. Food and drinks are not part of the ticket, though the City View Cafe is at the meeting point and can be useful before or after the tour.

Seeing Optus Stadium from the inside

The first pleasure is simply seeing how much goes on behind a major sporting event. From the public seats, a stadium can look simple: field, stands, lights, and scoreboards. Inside, it is a working machine with player preparation spaces, media facilities, coaching rooms, lounges, hospitality areas, and recovery zones.

The guide helps connect those spaces to the events you watch. You can learn how the venue is managed and how it is prepared for different sporting occasions. That makes the tour useful even if you do not follow one particular club.

The experience is designed for all ages and abilities. Several people have found the lifts helpful when moving between levels, especially those who have trouble with stairs. Most participants can take part, and service animals are allowed. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

The tour is still a walking experience, so you should be ready to move through a large venue. If you need lifts or extra time, tell the guide at the start. The friendly approach of the staff is one of the tour’s strengths, but the schedule is fairly compact.

The Fremantle, West Coast, and Perth Scorchers changerooms

The changerooms are among the most appealing stops for sports fans. You get to enter areas used by the Fremantle Dockers, West Coast Eagles, and Perth Scorchers, rather than simply viewing a display from behind a barrier.

This gives the tour a more personal feel. You can picture players preparing for a match, returning after the final whistle, or dealing with the ordinary routines that supporters never see. The spaces also help explain the difference between watching a game and preparing for one.

The access is not limited to one code. The inclusion of the Perth Scorchers adds a cricket connection, while the AFL changerooms bring in the two major Perth football clubs. That mix gives the tour wider appeal for families and groups with different sporting interests.

The visit may feel brief if you want to study every room at length. The itinerary includes many stops, and the group needs to keep moving. Still, the chance to enter these areas is more valuable than a long talk from a public concourse.

Sitting where players and coaches sit

One of the most enjoyable moments is sitting at ground level on the benches normally used by the stars of the game. This is a simple activity, but it changes your sense of the field.

From the spectator seats, you watch the match at a distance. From the sideline, you can imagine the noise, pressure, and quick decisions that shape a game. I like this part because it is hands-on rather than purely visual. It gives children something concrete to enjoy, and adults can have a little fun pretending to manage the next big match.

You also enter the Coaches Room. This adds a different view of sport, focused on planning and decisions rather than only on the players. The guide explains the role these spaces play in running an event, helping you see the stadium as a workplace as well as a public venue.

The stadium’s operation is a recurring theme. You learn about the logistics needed to host different sporting events and how the venue can be adapted for more than one use. That is a useful lesson for anyone interested in event management, stadium design, or the unseen work behind a match.

Victory Lounge and the stadium’s highest views

The Victory Lounge provides one of the better field views on the route. You can look across the playing surface from a setting linked to hospitality and premium seating, then compare that view with the public areas you may have used on match day.

The highest vantage point is another highlight. From up there, the field appears in a new way, and the views extend toward the Swan River and Perth city skyline. This is likely to be the most rewarding stop for visitors who enjoy architecture, photography, or city views as much as sport.

The sightline also helps you understand the venue’s scale. Optus Stadium is not just a place to watch a game. Its height, seating areas, lounges, and internal rooms all work together to serve different parts of an event.

The tour does not promise a match in progress or access to every part of the building on every visit. Conditions and stadium use can affect what is available. Still, the route is built around areas that regular ticket holders normally do not enter.

Media rooms, press areas, and event control

The press and broadcast areas show how a match reaches people who are not in the stadium. You get a quick look at the press box, commentary box, television areas, and press conference rooms.

This section may appeal especially to anyone interested in sports media. It also gives you a practical sense of how many people work behind the scenes to produce an event for viewers at home.

Corporate suites and function spaces are included as well. These areas reveal another side of the stadium, one built around hospitality, business gatherings, and special events. Seeing them alongside player and coaching spaces makes the venue feel more versatile.

One of the most useful ideas from the tour is the stadium’s ability to support different events. The guide explains the systems and planning involved, rather than treating the building as a simple football ground. If you attend matches often, you may be surprised by how much work happens outside your view.

Warm-up, recovery, and the sporting details

The warm-up areas, preparation rooms, recovery rooms, and spas show what happens before and after competition. These are not flashy stops, but they explain the physical demands placed on players and the care required between matches.

I would pay attention here if you are visiting with children who play sport. The tour can connect professional facilities with the routines young athletes already know: preparing, warming up, recovering, and getting ready to perform.

Western Australian sporting memorabilia adds a local touch. It places the modern venue within the wider sporting story of the state. You are not only looking at a new stadium, opened in 2018, but also at the sports culture it was built to serve.

The best guides add small facts and figures along the way. Lindsay has been praised for passion and kindness, while Keith has been noted for making the details enjoyable. Those personal stories can make a technical room or service area more memorable than it would be on its own.

Is $25.10 good value?

At $25.10 per person, I consider this a good-value activity in Perth, especially if you already plan to visit the stadium or enjoy sports architecture. You get about 90 minutes with a guide and access to several areas that a normal match ticket does not provide.

The value is strongest for families. Children can sit on the team benches, enter the changerooms, and see the stadium from unusual angles. Adults who are not serious football fans still have the building, city views, and event operations to keep the visit interesting.

It is also a sensible choice before attending a match. The tour can give you a better understanding of the rooms and systems around you when you return for the game. One visitor even paired the visit with lunch at the cafe afterward, enjoying the views around the stadium grounds.

The price may feel less attractive if you want a long architectural tour or extensive time in each room. The route covers a lot in 90 minutes, and one extra 15 minutes could help when the group is moving between stops. If your main goal is to wander at your own pace, this guided format may feel brisk.

Who will enjoy this tour most?

I would recommend it to AFL supporters, cricket fans, families, first-time visitors to Optus Stadium, and anyone curious about how a large event venue functions. It is also a good pick for people who have attended games there but have never seen the working areas behind the public seating.

You do not need to be a football enthusiast. The tour includes media, hospitality, architecture, city views, and stadium logistics. That variety gives non-sports visitors several ways into the experience.

It suits mixed-age groups because the guide provides the structure while the spaces offer plenty to see. Most ages and abilities can participate, and lifts help with movement between levels. Children must stay with an adult, and everyone should dress for the weather.

I would be less likely to choose it if you dislike guided walks, need a slow pace, or want guaranteed access to a particular room. The venue is an active facility, so the route may need to work around operations and conditions.

Booking and cancellation advice

You can book with a mobile ticket, and confirmation is provided when you reserve. The meeting point is behind Gate D, under the City View Cafe, not simply at the stadium’s main entrance.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. If you cancel less than 24 hours ahead, you will not receive a refund, and changes made inside that period are not accepted. Cut-off times use local Perth time, so check the clock carefully if your plans are uncertain.

Should you book the Optus Stadium Tour?

I would book it if you want more than a seat in the stands. The changerooms, coaches’ room, team benches, media areas, recovery spaces, Victory Lounge, and high city views give you a proper look at the stadium’s working side.

The tour’s biggest strength is its guides. Bruce, Terri, Keith, Rocco, Lindsay, Bob, Crystaline, and the wider team have brought warmth, humor, and clear explanations to the experience. That matters because a stadium can be impressive but impersonal without someone to connect the spaces.

Book it for $25.10 if you value access and context. Skip it only if you prefer complete independence or want a longer, slower visit. For most families, sports fans, and curious Perth visitors, this is an easy way to see Optus Stadium from a side that ordinary match tickets keep hidden.

FAQ

Where does the Optus Stadium Tour begin?

The meeting point is behind Gate D, underneath the City View Cafe at Optus Stadium.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $25.10 per person.

Is a mobile ticket available?

Yes. The experience includes a mobile ticket.

What teams’ changerooms can you visit?

The tour includes the changerooms of the Fremantle Dockers, West Coast Eagles, and Perth Scorchers.

Can you see the field during the tour?

Yes. You can view the field from several locations, including the Victory Lounge, ground-level benches, and the stadium’s highest vantage point.

Does the tour include food or drinks?

No. Food and drinks are not included.

Is the tour suitable for people who have trouble with stairs?

The tour has lifts for movement between levels, and most people can participate. You should dress appropriately and discuss any needs with the guide.

Are children allowed on the tour?

Yes. Children are allowed, but they must be accompanied by an adult.

What happens if the weather is bad?

The tour operates in all weather conditions, so you should dress appropriately.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours ahead are not refunded, and changes inside that period are not accepted.