Categories > Guides and Tips
Game Time! Perth’s Sports Scene & Where to View Games
- The Most Popular Sports in Perth
- Swimming
- Association Football (Soccer)
- Australian Rules Football
- Basketball
- Cricket
- Netball
- Rugby
- Golf
- Tennis
- Major Sports Venues in Perth
- Optus Stadium
- RAC Arena
- HBF Park
- WACA Ground
- Empire Ballpark
- Local Sports Clubs and Teams
- Perth Glory FC
- West Coast Eagles
- Fremantle Dockers
- Perth Wildcats
- Perth Lynx
- West Coast Fever
- Perth Scorchers
- Western Force
Western Australia, including Perth, is home to many fans and players of various sports. Our city has a diversified sports scene; a sports fan wouldn’t have a dull moment while in Perth!
Let’s take a close look at the current sports scene in Perth, the best places to watch a game, and which teams represent Perth and Western Australia.
The Most Popular Sports in Perth
Swimming
From: sorrento_beach
Swimming has always been one of the most popular sports in Perth. Swimming competitions, like the Rottnest Channel Swim, are very popular among Perth’s residents.
Western Australia’s support for swimming has also resulted in our having a strong presence at the Olympic Summer Games. Some of our state’s most famous swimmers are Todd Pearson and Priya Cooper.
Association Football (Soccer)
It’s no surprise that the most popular sport in the world is also a highly-popular sport in Perth. Association football or soccer is a sport many people in the city love to play (including me!).
When it comes to professional soccer, Perth is represented by Perth Glory FC in the national A-League Men and A-League Women.
Australian Rules Football
Australian rules football, informally referred to as footy, is a sport that continues to grow in popularity in Perth. It’s a sport that’s inspired by American football but has its own unique rules.
One of this sport’s most unique aspects is the oval field we play it on. To score, players are required to kick the ball either between the central posts or the outer posts of their enemies.
As fun as it is, it has not yet caught on internationally, unfortunately.
Perth has two teams competing in the Australian Football League, the Fremantle Dockers and the West Coast Eagles.
Basketball
Basketball is one of my favourite sports to play and watch. It isn’t as popular as soccer or footy in Australia, but it’s still very popular here in the city.
Perth’s basketball teams are some of the most successful in their leagues. The city has the Perth Wildcats for the National Basketball League (NBL) and the Perth Lynx for the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL).
Cricket
Cricket is the national sport of Australia and is among the most popular games in the country. Here in Perth, the game doesn’t draw the same crowd you’ll see in footy or soccer games, but it still has a sizable fanbase.
Like basketball, our cricket teams have also enjoyed many successes in their leagues. Our cricket team, the Perth Scorchers, is the most successful team in the Big Bash League since the league’s inception.
Netball
Netball used to carry the reputation of being “basketball for women.” However, the massive changes and improvements done to the sport in 1987 have led to it developing its own unique identity.
Unfortunately, netball still has a long way to go before it becomes as popular as other sports like basketball. This sport is mostly played among Commonwealth nations like Australia and Canada.
Netball is a highly popular sport among women in Perth and Western Australia, with more than 150,000 participants. The West Coast Fever represents Perth in the National Netball League.
Rugby
From: rugby_wa
Another classic game that is well-loved in Perth is rugby. This close-contact sport is always fun to watch, and a lot of schools and organisations in the city have their own rugby clubs.
There are two rugby leagues you can follow here: rugby league, which is amateur-level, and rugby union, which is professional-level. The team that represents Perth in rugby union is the Western Force.
Golf
Golf isn’t as exciting to watch as some of the other sports I’ve mentioned here, but it still has a solid fanbase in Perth. There are a couple of golf courses spread throughout the city, proof that golfing is quite popular here.
Western Australia has hosted some prestigious golf tournaments throughout the years. Some of those include the Johnnie Walker Classic, the Heineken Classic, and the PGA Tour of Australasia.
Tennis
Tennis is a great pastime activity and is a very popular sport among many Perth residents. Whether you’re a professional or a beginner, there are lots of tennis clubs in the city where you can play with other fans of the sport.
On the professional level, Western Australia is an active supporter of the sport and has hosted many tennis tournaments. Some of these tournaments include the ATP Cup and the Davis Cup.
Major Sports Venues in Perth
Optus Stadium
Website: https://optusstadium.com.au/
Address: 333 Victoria Park Dr, Burswood WA 6100, Australia
Contact details: +61 1300 297 588
Sports played here: Australian rules football (footy) and cricket
Optus Stadium, also referred to as Perth Stadium, is the third-largest stadium in Australia with a total capacity of 61,266. It’s located in Burswood, just across the Swan River from East Perth and the Perth CBD.
The two biggest sports played in Optus Stadium are footy and cricket. This is where the footy teams of the Fremantle Dockers and West Coast Eagles play their home games.
The city’s cricket team, the Perth Scorchers, has also relocated their home games to Optum Stadium from WACA Ground.
It’s always a blast to watch a game or concert performance in this stadium. I recommend first-time visitors try out Optus Stadium’s Game Day Rooftop Experience.
This experience will surely take your game-viewing experience to the next level as you watch a game at the very top of the stadium.
RAC Arena
Website: https://www.racarena.com.au/
Address: 700 Wellington St, Perth WA 6000, Australia
Contact details: +61 8 6365 0700
Sports played here: Basketball, netball, and hardcourt tennis
RAC Arena, also known as Perth Arena, is a major sports venue you’ll find in Northbridge. With a maximum capacity of 15,500, It’s mostly used for indoor sports events, especially basketball.
It’s currently the home court for Perth’s national-league basketball teams the Perth Wildcats and the Perth Lynx.
RAC Arena is also the home court for the most popular netball team in Western Australia, the West Coast Fever.
Other major sporting events held here are tennis tournaments. RAC Arena is one of the Australian venues hosting the ATP Cup and the United Cup tournaments.
HBF Park
Website: https://www.hbfpark.com.au/
Address: 310 Pier St, Perth WA 6000, Australia
Contact details: +61 8 9422 1500
Sports played here: Rugby and football
HBF Park is the place to be for soccer fans. Also known as Perth Rectangular Stadium, this sports stadium has a capacity of 20,500 and is the home stadium for Perth’s rugby and football teams.
This stadium is where you can watch the soccer team Perth Glory FC and the rugby team Western Force play their games. It’s located just a few metres north of the Perth CBD, so you won’t have to travel far to watch some games.
My most memorable experience here was watching the match between Australia and Bangladesh at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Speaking of the FIFA World Cup, I’m happy to report that HBF Park has been chosen as one of the major venues for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
WACA Ground
Website: https://wacaground.com.au/
Address: WACA Ground, Nelson Cres, East Perth WA 6004, Australia
Contact details: +61 8 9265 7222
Sports played here: Cricket
Before Optus Stadium, WACA Ground was the main sports venue for cricket. This stadium has a capacity of 20,000 and has hosted many sports aside from cricket in the past, including baseball, rugby, and soccer.
WACA Ground was opened in 1890 and was known as Western Australia’s “Home of Cricket.” This stadium became known for its bouncy pitch, which is highly suitable for cricket techniques like swing bowling and pace.
As a result, most games here are often fast-paced. My dad told me that the cricket games he used to watch here were exciting and fun.
Nowadays, the WACA Ground is mostly used for soccer. The East Fremantle FC of WAFL regularly holds most of its soccer matches here.
Empire Ballpark
Website: https://www.baseballwa.com.au/
Address: Nicholson Rd &, Wilfred Rd, Canning Vale WA 6155, Australia
Contact details: +61 1300 557 353
Sports played here: Baseball
If you’re a fan of baseball, make sure to support our local team at the Empire Ballpark. This baseball field is located in Canning Vale and has a maximum capacity of 3,000.
Empire Ballpark isn’t as big as the other sports venues I’ve mentioned before. However, this is a good thing, as it allows you to have a closer and more exciting view of the action.
Many amateur baseball leagues host their matches here. Empire Ballpark is currently the home stadium for Perth Heat, the city’s baseball team in the Australian Baseball League.
Local Sports Clubs and Teams
Perth Glory FC
Founded: 1 December 1995
League: A-League Men
Where they play: HBF Stadium and Optus Stadium
Perth Glory FC is the best men’s soccer team in Perth. It’s currently a contender in the A-League Men and plays most of its home games at HBF Stadium.
Our men’s soccer team has experienced moderate success throughout the years. They have won six titles, including their impressive championship run during the National Soccer League 2003–04 season.
Perth Glory FC has its fair share of great soccer players, too. One of the club’s best-known players is Bobby Despotovski, Perth Glory FC’s record goalscorer with 129 goals.
West Coast Eagles
Founded: 20 October 1986
League: Australian Football League
Where they play: Optus Stadium
The West Coast Eagles are one of the two footy teams representing Perth and Western Australia. It started out as an expansion team for the AFL and has rapidly gained success since 1990.
It won a total of four championships in the years 1992, 1994, 2006, and 2018. The West Coast Eagles’ successes have turned them into one of the most profitable clubs in the AFL.
This footy team is filled with great talent, with nine of its former players having been inducted into the Hall of Fame. Nowadays, the West Coast Eagles still have some awesome players like Jack Darling, who is the team’s leading goalkicker.
Fremantle Dockers
Sport: Australian rules football
Founded: 21 July 1994
League: Australian Football League
Where they play: Optus Stadium
Fremantle Football Club, also known as the Fremantle Dockers, is the second major footy team playing in Perth. The team was founded to represent Fremantle, one of the towns with the biggest footy fan bases in Western Australia.
Unfortunately, the Fremantle Dockers are still unsuccessful in winning a championship despite their many finals appearances. One of the club’s biggest successes was its minor premiership back in 2015.
It’s unfair to say that they don’t have talent, though. The Fremantle Dockers have two of their former players inducted into the Hall of Fame: Peter Bell and Matthew Pavlich.
Perth Wildcats
Sport: Basketball
Founded: 1988
League: National Basketball League
Where they play: RAC Arena
The Perth Wildcats are the team representing Perth in the National Basketball League. It was originally called the Westate Wildcats until 1984.
Fans of basketball will love the Perth Wildcats because they’re the most successful team in the NBL. They have the highest number of championships in the league, having won 10.
The team’s unmatched success has led to a surge of interest in basketball in Perth. Be ready to be hyped if you decide to watch one of their games in the RAC Arena; the crowd always goes wild every game!
Perth Lynx
Sport: Basketball
Founded: 1988
League: Women’s National Basketball League
Where they play: Bendat Basketball Centre
When it comes to the Women’s National Basketball League, the Perth Lynx is the team we support. They enjoyed some success throughout their history, with four finals appearances and a championship win in 1992.
One of their best runs was during the 2021–22 season when they reached the grand finals. Unfortunately, they lost to the Melbourne Boomers, who managed to defeat them 2–1.
West Coast Fever
Sport: Netball
Founded: 2008
League: Suncorp Super Netball
Where they play: RAC Arena
West Coast Fever is the premier netball team in Perth. Playing in the RAC Arena, this team has recently started to make some waves in the league as one of its most competitive teams.
It’s been exciting to watch their games over the past few years. They recently became grand finalists in the years 2018 and 2020.
Their biggest success was in 2022 when they won their first-ever premiership!
I hope that they continue their successes and keep getting those wins. Netball has recently started to gain massive traction in the city thanks to them.
Perth Scorchers
Sport: Cricket
Founded: 2011
League: Big Bash League
Where they play: WACA Ground and Optus Stadium
When it comes to cricket, the Perth Scorchers are one of the most popular teams in Australia today. This team currently holds the distinction of being the most successful team in the Big Bash League.
The Perth Scorchers have won five championships throughout their history, with the most recent being the 2022–23 season. It’s always a blast to watch these guys, thanks to their consistent performance.
The Perth Scorchers’ current coach is Adam Voges, a former star player for the team.
Western Force
Sport: Rugby union
Founded: 2005
League: Super Rugby Pacific
Where they play: HBF Park
For professional rugby, the team we support is the Western Force.
They have won three championships in three different leagues. Their first came from Global Rapid Rugby, the second was from the National Rugby Championship, and the last one was from World Club 10s.
The team suffered from the COVID-19 pandemic, as most of their games were cancelled. I hope they bounce back on their return to the professional stage.
