The Optus Stadium Tour

Optus Stadium reveals its working side on this 90-minute tour. You move beyond the spectator bowl into the West Coast Eagles, Fremantle Dockers, and Perth Scorchers changerooms, then climb to the stadium’s highest viewing point for broad views of the Swan River and Perth skyline. It is part sports tour, part look at how a huge event venue functions.

I like the access to places usually closed during a normal match, especially the coaches’ room, press areas, warm-up spaces, and field-level benches. I also like the guides’ personal touch: Bruce, Terri, Keith, Rocco, Lindsay, Bob, Frank, and others are praised for making the facts easy to follow and the group comfortable.

The main drawback is pace. You cover many areas in 90 minutes, and an extra 15 minutes would give you more time in each room and allow for delays. Food and drinks are not included, so plan those separately.

Key points before you book

• The highest viewpoint gives you a new sense of the stadium’s scale, with views toward the Swan River and Perth city skyline.
• Three major team changerooms are included: the Fremantle Dockers, West Coast Eagles, and Perth Scorchers.
• The working side of sport comes into focus through the coaches’ room, commentary and broadcast areas, press spaces, recovery facilities, and warm-up zones.
• Field-level access lets you sit on benches normally used by players and staff.
• Small groups of up to 25 people keep the guide close enough for questions.
• Lifts are available between levels, making the tour workable for most ages and abilities.

What the Optus Stadium tour is really about

A match ticket shows you the finished show. This tour explains the machinery behind it. You see where players prepare, where coaches plan, where media teams work, and how a stadium shifts between different sports and events.

That practical angle is what makes the tour worthwhile even if you are not an AFL devotee. You are not simply looking at empty seats and taking a few photos. You are learning how a major venue handles teams, officials, broadcasters, corporate functions, and the public all under one roof.

The guide leads the way and adds the detail that a self-guided walk cannot provide. Guides including Terri, Keith, Rocco, Lindsay, Bruce, Bob, and Frank are repeatedly praised for clear explanations, patience, humor, and enthusiasm. The personality of the person leading your group will shape the experience, but the route itself gives you plenty to see.

The tour is designed for all ages and abilities. You should expect a walking route through a large building, but lifts are available between levels. Children must stay with an adult, and service animals are allowed.

Starting behind Gate D

Your meeting point is behind Gate D, underneath the City View Cafe. That detail matters because Optus Stadium is large, and finding the correct gate is easier if you allow time to orient yourself before the start.

Your mobile ticket is accepted for the experience. The group can contain up to 25 people, a useful limit in rooms such as changerooms, lounges, and media spaces. A smaller group also makes it easier to hear the guide and ask questions without holding up the route.

The tour operates in all weather. Much of the experience takes place indoors, but you should dress for the conditions and wear comfortable shoes. This is not a sit-down presentation. You will move through several parts of the stadium, use lifts or walk between levels, and pause at viewing points.

The changerooms of three Perth teams

The changeroom visits are among the clearest reasons to book. You enter the player areas connected with the Fremantle Dockers, West Coast Eagles, and Perth Scorchers, three teams that give the building a strong local sports identity.

These rooms help you picture the part of match day that spectators never see. Players arrive, prepare, receive instructions, change, and recover long before the public sees them on the field. The tour gives you a chance to consider how much support work happens away from the seats.

The changerooms are also a good stop for families. Children who may find a long talk about architecture dull can connect the room to the players they know. Adults get a better idea of the daily rhythm behind professional sport.

The exact amount of time in each room can depend on the group and the day. The route covers a lot, so you may need to keep moving rather than linger at every stop. If the changerooms are your main reason for booking, listen closely when the guide explains the schedule at the start.

Sitting where the action begins

One of the tour’s best small moments comes at ground level. You can sit on the benches normally occupied by players and staff and look across the field from a position that match spectators do not normally reach.

This is more useful than it may sound. From the stands, the field is the focus. From the bench, you start to think about substitutions, warm-ups, coaching instructions, staff movement, and the pressure of waiting for your turn. It gives children a simple way to imagine the working side of the game, while sports fans can picture themselves close to the action.

The route also includes warm-up and recovery facilities. The recovery areas and spas show that elite sport is not only about the two or three hours of competition. Preparation and care after the final whistle are built into the venue too.

The tour does not promise a live match or player appearance. Access is to the stadium spaces, and some rooms could be affected by events or operational needs. Still, the range of areas included makes this more than a basic field visit.

Coaches, media, and the business of sport

The Coaches Room is another strong stop. You can look at the stadium from the perspective of the people who study the game, make decisions, and manage a team. That change in viewpoint helps explain why a match venue needs so many rooms away from the public seating.

You also walk through media and broadcast areas. The press conference room, press box, commentary box, and television facilities show how the event reaches people who are not inside the stadium. A football match is watched from the stands, but it is also described, filmed, analyzed, and distributed from these working spaces.

This part suits anyone interested in event production. You can see how the stadium serves journalists, commentators, camera crews, coaches, players, and officials at once. It is especially useful if you want to understand why converting a venue for different sports requires more than changing the markings on the field.

The guide fills in the practical details. Bruce, Keith, Terri, Rocco, Lindsay, Bob, and Frank are among the guides noted for answering questions and keeping the group moving. Their style may vary, but the best guides turn rooms that could seem plain into places with a clear job.

Victory Lounge, suites, and high-level views

The Victory Lounge provides one of the tour’s better views of the field. You can see the playing surface from a polished hospitality setting, then compare it with the more workmanlike areas used by coaches and teams.

The route also includes corporate suites and function spaces. These areas explain how the stadium earns money and operates outside game time. A large venue must host more than sport, and these rooms show the side of the building used for business gatherings, hospitality, and other events.

Then you reach the stadium’s highest vantage point. From there, the field looks different, and the scale of the bowl becomes easier to grasp. You also get views toward the Swan River and Perth skyline, giving the tour a useful city perspective rather than keeping you focused only on interiors.

The high point can be one of the most memorable parts of the route, but it may not suit anyone uncomfortable with height. The supplied information does not describe a special safety issue, so simply consider your own comfort before booking.

Sports memorabilia and Western Australian identity

The tour includes memorabilia tied to Western Australian sports history. This adds local context to a building that opened in 2018.

The displays help connect the modern stadium with the teams, competitions, and sporting culture that came before it. You do not need to know every name or result to enjoy this section. The guide’s explanation is what turns the objects from decoration into a short story about sport in Western Australia.

This is also where the tour can appeal to non-fans. You are not required to follow one club or understand every AFL rule. The memorabilia, stadium design, team spaces, and event operations together create a broader picture of Perth’s sporting life.

How much does $25.10 buy you?

At $25.10 per person, the tour offers solid value if you care about access rather than entertainment alone. You get about 90 minutes with a guide and enter areas that a regular match ticket does not cover: team changerooms, coaching spaces, media rooms, warm-up and recovery areas, hospitality rooms, and field-level positions.

The price is easier to justify if you are already planning to visit Optus Stadium for a match. The tour gives you a better understanding of the building before you return as a spectator. It also works well on a day when there is no game, since you still get to see the venue in operation.

I would be less enthusiastic if you want a quiet architectural visit with lots of time for photographs. The route is active and information-heavy. You cover many rooms, and the guide needs to keep the group together. One strong suggestion from the available feedback is to allow more than the scheduled 90 minutes in your day, since a delay or a lively question period can make the final stops feel brisk.

No food or drinks are included. You might choose to use the City View Cafe or make separate plans before or after, but the tour price covers the guided stadium experience itself.

Who will enjoy it most?

I would recommend this tour to:

• AFL, cricket, and Perth sports fans
• Families with children interested in players and teams
• Visitors curious about how a major event venue works
• People who enjoy stadium design, broadcasting, and event logistics
• Anyone attending a match who wants more context
• Older visitors who appreciate lifts between levels

You do not need to be a football expert. The tour covers several sports and the broader operation of the venue. The strongest connection comes from curiosity: if you like knowing what happens behind a closed door, you will find plenty to hold your attention.

I would think twice if you dislike walking, need a very slow pace, or have no interest in sport, venues, or event management. The route is suitable for most participants, but it is still a 90-minute guided visit through a large stadium.

Practical details that make the day easier

Book with the meeting point in mind. Head to Gate D and look underneath the City View Cafe. Since the stadium is large, arriving with enough time to find that spot will make the start less rushed.

Children must be accompanied by an adult. Service animals are allowed, and lifts are available for movement between levels. The tour is intended for all ages and abilities, though you should mention any needs when arranging your visit if possible.

Dress for the weather. The experience operates in all conditions, and comfortable footwear is the sensible choice. Bring your mobile ticket and keep your schedule flexible enough to allow the full 90 minutes.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start are not accepted for a refund.

My verdict on the Optus Stadium Tour

I would book this if you want to see the working stadium, not just admire its seats and roof. The combination of changerooms, coaches’ spaces, media rooms, field-level benches, lounges, memorabilia, and the highest viewpoint gives you a well-rounded visit for the price.

The tour is strongest when the guide brings the building to life. Guides such as Terri, Keith, Rocco, Lindsay, Bruce, Bob, and Frank are praised for warmth, patience, and strong subject knowledge. The route can feel full, and the schedule may not leave enough time to linger, but that is a small trade-off for seeing so many restricted areas.

Book it if you are a sports fan, visiting with children, or simply curious about the machinery behind a major Perth event. Skip it only if you want a short photo stop or a slow, self-directed museum visit.

FAQ

How long does the Optus Stadium Tour take?

The tour lasts approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $25.10 per person.

Where does the tour meet?

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

What areas of Optus Stadium can I visit?

The tour includes the Fremantle Dockers, West Coast Eagles, and Perth Scorchers changerooms, the Coaches Room, Victory Lounge, media areas, corporate suites, function spaces, warm-up and recovery facilities, and field-level benches.

Can I see the stadium from a high viewpoint?

Yes. The tour includes the stadium’s highest vantage point, with views of the Swan River and Perth city skyline.

Is the tour suitable for people with limited mobility?

The tour caters for all ages and abilities, and lifts are available between levels. The experience is still a walking tour through the stadium.

Are children allowed on the tour?

Yes. Children can participate, but they must be accompanied by an adult.

What happens if I need to cancel?

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations and changes made less than 24 hours before the start are not accepted for a refund.