Perth’s Optus Stadium has detailed plans to expand its Halo rooftop tour experience with a new viewing platform at the western end of the venue.
Work on the Western Gantry attraction has begun and the platform is scheduled to open to the public in 2022. The platform will cost around Aus$7m (£3.7m/€4.4m/$5.2m) to build, according to The West Australian.
The ring pull-shaped attraction will provide views of the Stadium Park, the Swan River, central Perth, Optus Stadium’s field of play and the surrounding area. The platform will extend around five metres beyond the edge of the roof.
The platform is designed to make Optus Stadium’s Halo tour experience more accessible, with an elevator to form part of the construction to give people of all abilities the chance to sample Perth’s landscape. The attraction will include a walk over the pitch at the 60,000-seat stadium.
Optus Stadium chief executive Mike McKenna said: “The stadium and its surrounding park precinct are fast becoming Perth’s premier entertainment destination.
“This new, complementary offering will be a major tourism drawcard for visitors and will allow people of all ages and abilities to enjoy 360-degree views of Perth and the world’s most beautiful stadium.
“This is the latest in a series of exciting tour opportunities available at the stadium, with thousands of people having taken the opportunity to tour the stadium, walk the roof or engage in an Aboriginal cultural tour.”
Tony Buti, Western Australia’s Sport and Recreation Minister, added: “This is an exciting addition to the suite of stadium tours and proves Western Australia’s ability to draw visitors to the state and provide world-class sporting and entertainment experiences.
“Creating a rooftop walk, and activating the Optus Stadium precinct, has been a goal of the McGowan Government. We often see footage of people on the rooftop during sports broadcasts, which provides ancillary promotional benefits to our state.”
Bookings for the stadium’s existing Halo rooftop tours, which include the lean-out experience and Game Day Rooftop Experience, are currently available. The tour, which launched earlier this year, gives fans the chance to watch sports events from 42 metres above the ground, with specially-constructed seats having been set up for guests to sample.
Optus Stadium opened in January 2018 and hosts cricket, AFL, football, rugby union and rugby league matches, as well as major music concerts. The stadium was recently confirmed as the host venue for the final Test of the 2021-22 Ashes series between England and Australia.
Image: Optus Stadium
