The New WACA Ground: What To Expect At The Revamped Entertainment Precinct

If you are an, ahem, older millennial Perthian, you’ll likely be well acquainted with the WACA Ground from weekends spent making the most of the green. 

If you’re blessed with youth, let me bring you up to speed. Throughout the 90s, it was the hot chip-and-beer-scented home ground to epic footy clashes, cricket sixes and countless sunburnt afternoons spent yelling ‘HOWZAAAAAT’ at strangers.

Fast forward to today, and the WACA Ground has traded in its slightly sticky terraces for sleek skyline views, premium seating, community-driven nooks and shiny new facilities. 

Whether you’re catching a high-octane Women’s T20, a potent espresso in a cafe, or a family-friendly outlet for the kids to run riot, this iconic precinct is officially reimagined for every generation. 

From legends to lattes, welcome to the WACA Ground’s next innings. 

Year-Round Fun And Fitness

Once upon a time, you only visited the WACA Ground when something big was happening. Not anymore. The precinct is now buzzing year-round, thanks in large part to The Pavilion—a brand spankin’ world-class aquatic and health hub overlooking the historic oval.

All year long, you have access to a heated 50m outdoor pool, an indoor wellness program pool, multiple spaces for stretching, sweating, strengthening and socialising, and a fully equipped gym with oval views so you can feel like an elite athlete while clocking your midweek workout. 

There’s also the Splash Park, complete with multiple waterslides and aquatic play zones for the kids, plus high-performance training facilities, indoor cricket lanes and recovery areas to support both the pros and everyday legends. 

Planning something special? The WACA Ground's versatile function and event spaces are ready and raring to host corporate shindigs, birthday bashes, community gatherings and any other milestone worth popping the bubbly for. 

Elevated Experiences, Exceptional Eats 

With premium seating, panoramic city views and plenty of family-friendly zones, the WACA Ground has redefined what a day out in East Perth can look like. 

Little ones can roam free in the all-abilities playground—an inclusive, thoughtfully designed space that welcomes children of all ages and abilities—while adults can soak up the sunshine and relax knowing the kids are well cared for. 

And when it comes time to fuel the fun, Wirin Café will soon be slinging top-tier coffee alongside a seriously impressive menu inspired by seasonal ingredients, all within a beaut spot overlooking the community play spaces. Entertained kids and caffeinated ‘rents? We love to see it. 

Cultivating Community And Connection

At its core, the WACA Ground’s renovation is all about the people of Perth. This is a space that’s no longer reserved for the cricket tragics (though you lot are very much welcome and wanted here, too). 

It’s for families flocking to the splash park and all-abilities playground. For friends catching up over a coffee and accidentally staying for a long lunch. For fitness fans, building routines and training with friendly, familiar faces. And for locals, treating the open spaces like an extension of their own backyard.

Add in regular live events and community-led activations into the mix, and it's no longer just a stadium—it’s a fully-fledged neighbourhood hangout. Part cafe, part playground, part social club and part sporting ground, the WACA Ground can be seamlessly woven into everyday life. 

Want to peek behind the curtain? Behind-the-scenes tours now give you access to player areas, historic stands, and all the inner workings typically reserved for the pros and VIPs. Old-school sports fans get their nostalgia, newbies get front-row access to the action. Everyone wins. 

So lock in tickets to the cricket, smash out a few laps at The Pavilion, and knock back a premium flat white while the kids get wet and wild. The WACA Ground has stepped into its next era, and you’re going to want a front seat. 

For more info on the new and improved WACA Ground, visit here. 

Editor’s note: This article is sponsored by WACA Ground and proudly endorsed by The Urban List. To find out more about who we work with and why read our editorial policy here.

Image: Supplied.