Ever since the Penrith Panthers entered the competition in 1967, Panthers Stadium has been their home and their fortress. Undergoing several name changes including Centrebet Stadium, Sportingbet Stadium, McGrath Foundation Stadium and Pepper Stadium, the simplicity of ‘Panthers Stadium’ must be pleasing to Penrith locals, who will look to continue to send back easterly-bound fans and players with their tails between their legs.
Originally named Penrith Park, the Panthers would play at the oval-shaped ground until the 1980s, when the ground was re-shaped into a rectangular ground more suitable for rugby league. With two grandstands on the Eastern and Western sides, and with grass hills at the Northern and Southern ends, the stadium capacity sits at 22,500. The largest crowd recorded at the ground was in 2010. The local western Sydney derby between the Panthers and the Parramatta Eels drew an above capacity crowd of 22,585.
Located a whopping 50km from Sydney’s CBD, the Panthers have historically used the distance of the bus trip faced by most Sydney clubs to their advantage, outmuscling clubs that are used to more temperate coastal conditions. With temperatures that can soar in the warmer months and drop right down in winter, it isn’t easy for visiting teams to go and win at the foot of the mountains.
With solid crowd numbers reflecting the positive start to the 2018 season, Panthers players will be looking to feed off their passionate home crowd to launch themselves into the top 4. With the league’s club just across the road, the ground is ideally situated to attract a healthy home crowd in every game played at Panthers Stadium.
