HBF Park Perth Renovation 2026: WAFL Finals Guide

HBF Park on Wellington Street in East Perth finished a $12 million renovation on 10 July that adds 1,800 seats and upgraded floodlights ahead of the 2026 WAFL finals series opening on 18 July.

The work arrives as the regular season concludes and clubs shift focus to elimination matches that decide premiership contenders across Western Australia. Teams based in Perth and regional centres now prepare training schedules around the upgraded venue rather than split sessions at multiple grounds.

Local detail centres on two Perth sites. The East Perth facility sits beside the Swan River and links to the Northbridge sports hub run by the City of Perth recreation team. Staff from the same program also manage junior clinics on St Georges Terrace that feed players into the WAFL pathway. Both locations share new digital ticketing software installed during the HBF Park works.

Attendance data from the 2025 finals showed an average 18,450 spectators per match at the same ground. Organisers project a 12 percent rise this year after the added seating and improved sightlines. Ticket prices start at $28 for general admission and reach $65 for reserved seats on the new eastern stand. Sales open through the WAFL website on 12 July.

Finals Schedule and Venue Flow

The first week features two qualifying finals on 18 and 19 July followed by a semi-final on 25 July. All three games run at HBF Park with a 2 pm start time. Security gates on Wellington Street will open 90 minutes before kick-off. The layout directs crowds from the new riverfront plaza toward the southern concourse to reduce bottlenecks at the Lord Street entrance.

Transport planners expect extra trains on the Armadale line to stop at Perth Stadium station, a five-minute walk from the venue. Bus routes along Wellington Street will add services after 5 pm on match days. Parking remains limited to 450 bays on site, with overflow directed to the multi-storey facility at the corner of Pier Street and Murray Street.

Practical Steps for Supporters

Supporters should download the WAFL app for live seat maps and gate updates. Those travelling from Subiaco or Mount Lawley can use the free central city shuttle that stops at both Northbridge and East Perth on finals weekends. Entry requires the mobile ticket only; printed copies will not be accepted at the new scanning points. Early arrival remains the clearest advice for fans wanting to use the expanded food outlets along the eastern concourse before gates close 15 minutes after the opening bounce.