$1.4m world class playing surface to bring McDonald Jones Stadium into line with Sydney’s top venues

New Evergreen Matrix Instant Play Turf is being laid at McDonald Jones Stadium, just in time for the Newcastle Jets’ first home game of the season against Adelaide United.

The $1.4 million investment from Venues NSW will see a new world class playing surface at McDonald Jones Stadium.

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It’s already the Hunter’s premier sporting venue, but it’s set to be even better, as McDonald Jones Stadium receives a major pitch upgrade, to bring it into line with Sydney’s top sporting venues.

Home to the Newcastle Knights and the Newcastle Jets, the $1.4 million investment from Venues NSW will see a new world class playing surface, just like at ANZ Stadium and Bankwest Stadium.

On Monday, it was a sandy pitch and a hive of activity as the Evergreen Matrix Instant Play Turf was in the process of being laid, just in time for the Jets first home game of the season with Adelaide United on October 26.

A sandy pitch at McDonald Jones Stadium as the Evergreen Matrix Instant Play Turf was in the process of being laid.

Work at McDonald Jones Stadium for the major new pitch upgrade

Liberal member of the NSW Upper House for the Central Coast and Hunter, Taylor Martin said it’s a big win for the Hunter region.

“This is a great result for not only the stadium’s anchor tenants — the Newcastle Jets and Newcastle Knights — but also for the Hunter region’s sports fans,” Mr Martin said.

Looking through tunnel at McDonald Jones Stadium to new pitch being delivered.

“McDonald Jones Stadium has hosted some great sporting events in recent years and upgrading the playing surface will mean we can attract more high-quality events to the Hunter region.”

McDonald Jones Stadium already has a strong international profile and has hosted some high profile sporting events including the AFC Asian Cup finals, an Australia v New Zealand rugby league test match, and two Westfield Matilda’s internationals.

The NSW Waratahs will try out the new pitch, when they take on the Auckland Blues in March 2020.

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Venues NSW CEO, Paul Doorn said: “The stadium is used year-round so the construction team has done an excellent job to fit this project within the very narrow window of time between the end of the Knights’ season and the first Jets home game.”

The old turf will now be redistributed to other sporting organisations across the region, including the nearby Broadmeadow Magic FC and Stevenson Park.