It’s always brought up in pubs, group chats or even at NRL venues – what is the capacity of certain rugby league grounds in Australia?
We all know that the Olympic stadium in Sydney is by far the largest, but how many people can impress their mates by regurgitating the numbers of some of the other major NRL venues?
Well that’s why we’re here to help make sure you’re armed for next time.
NRL fans are certainly spoilt for choice when it comes to stadiums and grounds; ranging from 80,000-plus seat stadiums to ones that are small in stature, but spiritual nonetheless.
It’s a luxury that is unparalleled to other sports in Australia and with the inclusion of the Dolphins and their new home ground in Redcliffe; another has been added to the list.
Each of the major cities that have home NRL venues have a ground with a capacity of at least 30,000 seats. Some, of course, have multiple clubs affiliated, including Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane which is once again hosting Magic Round in just over a month’s time.
Keeping that in mind, let’s take stock of these grounds and their capacities, counting backwards.
The largest NRL venues, ranked by capacity
20. Kayo Stadium (Redcliffe, Brisbane)
Capacity: 10,000
NRL venue for: Dolphins
Record NRL attendance: 10,023 – Canberra Raiders vs Dolphins, 2023
19. PointsBet Stadium (Cronulla)
Capacity: 12,000* (Currently under renovation)
NRL venue for: Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Record NRL attendance: 22,302 – St George Dragons vs Cronulla Shraks, 2004
18. Belmore Sports Ground (Sydney)
Capacity: 17,000
NRL venue for: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Record NRL attendance: 19,005 – Cronulla Sharks vs Canterbury Bulldogs, 2015
17. Campbelltown Sports Stadium (Sydney)
Capacity: 17,500
NRL venue for: Wests Tigers
Record NRL attendance: 20,527 – North Queensland Cowboys vs Wests Tigers, 2005
16. 4 Pines Park (Brookvale Oval, Sydney Northern Beaches)
Capacity: 18,000
NRL venue for: Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Record NRL attendance: 20,510 – South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Manly Sea Eagles, 2013
15. Leichhardt Oval (Sydney)
Capacity: 20,000
NRL venue for: Wests Tigers
Record NRL attendance: 22,877 – South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Wests Tigers, 2005
14. Industree Group Stadium (Central Coast Stadium)
Capacity: 20,000
NRL venue for: Sydney Roosters and South Sydney Rabbitohs
Record NRL attendance: 20,060 – Manly Sea Eagles vs South Sydney Rabbitohs, 2013
13. Netstrata Jubilee Stadium (Kogarah, Sydney)
Capacity: 20,500
NRL venue for: St George Illawarra Dragons
Record NRL attendance: 20,847 – Cronulla Sharks vs St George Dragons, 2009
12. WIN Stadium (Wollongong)
Capacity: 22,000
NRL venue for: St George Illawarra Dragons
Record NRL attendance: 19,608 – Cronulla Sharks vs St George Dragons, 2005
11. BlueBet Stadium (Penrith)
Capacity: 22,500
NRL venue for: Penrith Panthers
Record NRL attendance: 22,582 – Parramatta Eels vs Penrith Panthers, 2010
10. Queensland Country Bank Stadium (Townsville)
Capacity: 25,000
NRL venue for: North Queensland Cowboys
Record NRL attendance: 25,372 – Parramatta Eels vs North Queensland Cowboys, 2022
9. GIO Stadium (Bruce Stadium, Canberra)
Capacity: 25,011
NRL venue for: Canberra Raiders
Record NRL attendance: 26,567 – South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Canberra Raiders, 2019
8. CBUS Super Stadium (Gold Coast)
Capacity: 27,690
NRL venue for: Gold Coast Titans
Record NRL attendance: 27,227 – Brisbane Broncos vs Gold Coast Titans, 2009
7. Mt Smart Stadium (Auckland)
Capacity: 30,000
NRL venue for: New Zealand Warriors
Record NRL attendance: 28,745 – Parramatta Eels vs New Zealand Warriors, 2007
6. CommBank Stadium (Parramatta, Sydney)
Capacity: 30,000
NRL venue for: Parramatta Eels and Wests Tigers
Record NRL attendance: 29,372 – Brisbane Broncos vs Parramatta Eels, 2019
5. McDonald Jones Stadium (Newcastle)
Capacity: 30,000
NRL venue for: Newcastle Knights
Record NRL attendance: 30,729 – South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Newcastle Knights, 2011
4. AAMI Park (Melbourne)
Capacity: 30,050
NRL venue for: Melbourne Storm
Record NRL attendance: 29,315 – North Queensland Cowboys vs Melbourne Storm, 2015
3. Allianz Stadium (Moore Park, Sydney)
Capacity: 42,500
NRL venue for: Sydney Roosters
Record NRL attendance: 41,906 – South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Sydney Roosters, 2022
2. Suncorp Stadium (Brisbane)
Capacity: 52,500
NRL venue for: Brisbane Broncos and the Dolphins
Record NRL attendance: 52,540 – State of Origin Game III, 2017
1. Accor Stadium (Homebush)
Capacity: 82,500
NRL venue for: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and South Sydney Rabbitohs
Record NRL attendance: 83,833 – South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Canterbury Bulldogs, 2014
