A new Penrith stadium will be built as part of the government’s Western Sydney infrastructure

Only months after winning the premiership, it can be revealed that the Penrith Panthers will soon have a brand new stadium to play on.

Penrith Stadium will be knocked down and rebuilt to create a world-class sporting and cultural destination, as part of the state government’s suburban stadium masterplan.

The boutique stadium in Western Sydney is set to have a capacity of between 25,000 and 30,000 people, and will come at an estimated cost of around $300 million.

No time-frame has yet been set for when the first Steeden will be kicked at the ground – the full redevelopment will go through a ­competitive design and ­construction tender.

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Premier Dominic Perrottet said it made sense to invest in infrastructure for Western Sydney, in line with his “six cities” vision announced at The Daily Telegraph’s Bradfield Oration last week.

A packed Penrith Stadium.

The stadiums strategy has identified Greater Penrith to Eastern Creek as a key growth corridor for the region, emphasising the importance of a revitalised Penrith Stadium.

“We are sending a clear message to Australia and the rest of the world that Western Sydney is a cultural capital in its own right,” Mr Perrottet told The Telegraph.

“You have Moore Park in the eastern city, Parramatta in the central city and then Penrith in the Western Parkland city,” he said

“As Western Sydney grows, this stadium will have greater use and prominence. It will stand tall in Western Sydney for everyone.”

The current stadium in Penrith is more than 40 years old, and, according to Mr Perrottet, “in need of repairs”.

Recently fans packed the stadium to see Penrith coach Ivan Cleary and captain Nathan Cleary celebrate winning the Grand Final. Picture: Tim Hunter.

A revamped Penrith Stadium is one of a number of boutique stadiums which had been under consideration since last year, after the government abandoned plans to spend $820 million upgrading ANZ stadium.

The government is continuing to examine options for other boutique stadiums – potentially Kogarah and Brookvale – but no commitments have been made.

Money to fund business cases for new suburban stadiums was first committed in the 2020 budget, with a further investment included in Mr Perrottet’s last budget in June.

Australian Rugby League Commission Chairman Peter V’landys has previously insisted that the $820 million saved by abandoning the ANZ plans should be spent on building smaller, boutique stadiums around Sydney.

Mr V’Landys yesterday commended Mr Perrottet for investing in a new Penrith stadium.

ARL Commission chairman Peter V'landys.

“I think this is the best news ever for Penrith – they’re going to have a world class stadium which young kids will aspire to play at,” he said.

He said the upgraded stadium “will keep the money in the local economy, and there’ll be so many other sports and community events which can be held at that ground”.

“Whatever the government spends on it, they’ll get a multiplier of three or four.”

Jobs Minister and Local MP Stuart Ayres said fans will “flock” to the “state of the art temple of sport”. “It is much more than just a football ground,” Mr Ayres said.

Sports Minister Natalie Ward said the new stadium will be a “world-class” venue for “world-class sporting events”.