The Newcastle International Sports Centre (known as the McDonald Jones Stadium for sponsorship reasons) was officially opened in April 1970 by Queen Elizabeth II.
The stadium has been the home of the Newcastle Knights rugby league team of the NRL since 1988. The Newcastle Jets Football Club have played in the stadium since their formation in 2000, competing in the A-League. The A-League Grand Final was played their in 2018, with the Jets ultimately losing to Melbourne Victory.
The McDonald Jones Stadium currently has a capacity of 33,000 (23,000 seated) following redevelopment in 2003 and 2011. Former names of the stadium include Marathon Stadium, EnergyAustralia Stadium, Ausgrid Stadium and Hunter Stadium.
Tenants: Newcastle Knights (NRL) & Newcastle Jets (A-League)
Opened: 1970
Capacity: 33,000
Address: 294 Turton Rd, Broadmeadow NSW 2292, Australia
International rugby league has been played in the Newcastle venue several times, including the a test between Australia and New Zealand which set a new attendance record of 32,890.
Four matches at the 2015 AFC Asian Cup were played at the McDonald Jones Stadium, including the semi-final in which Australia defeated the UAE 2-0 and the third place play-off.
Other uses of the stadium include baseball, with the Hunter Eagles of the Australian Baseball League playing their between 1994 and 1998. Rugby Union was first played in 2012, with Scotland defeating Australia 9-6 as part of their tour of Oceania.
Tickets at McDonald Jones Stadium
Tickets for events at McDonald Jones Stadium are available to book online through Ticketmaster, or at the stadium’s Box Office which is open Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm.
Newcastle Knights (NRL): The NRL season runs from March to October, with Newcastle Knights tickets available to purchase through their ticketing partner, Ticketmaster.
Newcastle Jets (A-League): The NRL season runs from October to May, with Newcastle Jets tickets available to purchase through their ticketing partner, Ticketmaster.
Location & Travel to McDonald Jones Stadium
The McDonald Jones Stadium is located approximately 5 kilometres east of Newcastle’s CBD in the suburb of New Lambton.
Airport – Newcastle Airport is located 15 kilometres north of Newcastle and mainly offers low-cost flights to Brisbane, Gold Coast and Melbourne. From the airport you can reach the CBD by bus.
Alternatively, Kingsford Smith Airport in Sydney serves many international and domestic destinations. You can travel from Sydney to Newcastle by train (see below).
Thinking of flying to Newcastle? Search & book your flights through Skyscanner here.
Bus – There are several bus routes from Newcastle CBD to the stadium, the most convenient being the number 27 which stops on the corner of Young and Turton Road. Further information is available on the Newcastle Transport website.
Driving & Parking – The stadium is about a 10 minute drive from Newcastle CBD. Parking is available at the stadium for $10 through Ticketmaster, or by booking at the Box Office but must be booked in advance. Alternatively unreserved parking is available at the Newcastle Harness Racing Club for $10.
Train – Broadmeadow Train Station is 1.5 kilometres from the stadium, about a 15 minute walk. There are regular trains from Sydney to Newcastle with a journey time of about 2.5 to 3 hours. The service stops at stations including Central, Strathfield, Hornsby, Gosford, Wyong, Morisset and Cardiff on route to Broadmeadow. Further information is available on the NSW Transport website.
Where to stay in Newcastle
Use TripAdvisor to find some great places to stay in Newcastle by clicking here.
Further Information & Events
McDonald Jones Stadium Official Website
Newcastle Knights Official Website
Newcastle Jets Official Website
Last Updated on February 24, 2021 by Sports Tourist