Fan Guide to HBF Park and RAC Arena: Perth's Best Nights Out in Sport

Perth is well served by intimate, city-close sporting venues, and two stand out as true fan favourites. HBF Park on Wellington Street in East Perth is the home of Perth Glory and the Western Force, a rectangular stadium with a capacity of around 20,500 that wraps spectators tightly around the pitch. RAC Arena, also on Wellington Street in the CBD, is the city's premier indoor venue, hosting the Perth Wildcats and West Coast Fever as well as concerts and major events throughout the year.

HBF Park is within easy walking distance of the Perth CBD and several bus routes, making it one of the most accessible major venues in Western Australia. The ground has an excellent atmosphere for football and rugby, with covered seating available in most sections and standing areas behind the goals for the most vocal supporters. The compact design means that even seats near the top of the stand feel genuinely close to the action, and the sight lines throughout the ground are excellent. Tickets for Glory and Force home games are available through each club's website.

RAC Arena sits just a few minutes' walk from Perth Station and is served by multiple bus routes. The arena's indoor setting means games go ahead regardless of Perth's occasional winter rain, and the acoustics inside make crowd noise feel wonderfully intense. The concourse level offers a range of food and beverage options, and the seating bowl is compact enough that there is not a poor view anywhere in the house. Doors generally open around 90 minutes before tip-off or the first centre pass, giving you time to find your seat and settle in.

Both venues have accessible facilities throughout, and both welcome family groups with dedicated family seating zones. For first-time visitors, the best advice is to arrive early, spend some time on the concourse soaking in the pre-game atmosphere, and check the relevant venue website for any specific conditions of entry. HBF Park information is at hbfpark.com.au and RAC Arena details are at racarena.com.au. Between them, these two venues host sport on almost every weekend of the year, making Perth one of Australia's most active sporting cities.

Sources: HBF Park RAC Arena