The Netstrata Jubilee Stadium is one of the most popular professional sports grounds in New South Wales.
Home to the St George Illawarra Dragons NRL team, it boasts a capacity of over 20,500 spectators and offers a range of amenities and facilities to enhance the fan experience.
Established in 1936, this iconic stadium has undergone numerous renovations and upgrades, transforming it into a modern and state-of-the-art facility. Yet it retains a sense of charm and a stately nature that most other stadiums in Australia can match.
This article will present a comprehensive review of Jubilee Stadium, exploring its historical significance, facilities, and what makes it so special overall.
Hopefully, it will provide you with a thorough insight into what makes this sporting venue so special.
About the Stadium
Netstrata Jubilee Stadium enjoys a rich history that dates back to its inception in 1936.
The venue gained significant prominence in the 1950s and 1960s as the home ground of the highly successful St George Dragons rugby league team. During this period, the Dragons achieved an unprecedented run of eleven consecutive premiership wins from 1956 to 1966, creating an enduring legacy that is deeply intertwined with the stadium.
In 1973, the stadium underwent a major redevelopment and was renamed Jubilee Oval to commemorate the Queen’s Silver Jubilee. It became a popular venue for rugby league matches, hosting numerous local, state, and international games over the years.
In more recent times, the stadium underwent significant upgrades to modernise its facilities and improve the fan experience. These renovations included the construction of new grandstands, improved seating, upgraded amenities, and enhanced corporate and hospitality areas.
Today, the stadium holds a special place in the hearts of rugby league fans, particularly those who support the St George Illawarra Dragons. Its long-standing history and modern facilities ensure that it remains an important landmark on Australia’s professional sports scene.
Naming Rights
Over the years, the stadium has been known by several other names.
From 1950 to 2003, it was called Jubilee Stadium and has reverted to this name between sponsorship deals. The exception to this was in 1973, when it was briefly known as the Jubilee Oval.
In 2003, for a period of five years, it was known as the Oki Jubilee Stadium after a deal with the printing
solutions company. Between 2009-13 it became known as WIN Jubilee Oval, while its name was changed to Kogarah Park during 2017-19.
Since 2019 it has been referred to as Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.
What Sports Are Played at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium?
The main professional sporting code played at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium is NRL.
It is the primary home ground of the 15 times premiership winners St George Illawarra Dragons since 2009. However, they have played there in some club form since 1936.
In addition, the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks played some of their home games there in 2020-21.
What Other Sports Have Been Played There?
As well as Rugby League, football is also played at the stadium.
Up until 2022, Sydney FC played some of their home A-League and Asian Champions League games there. During the Covid pandemic, other teams played A-League games at it, while the Sydney FC women’s team currently uses it as their home ground.
In the past, Sydney Olympic FC has also played games at the stadium in the now-defunct National Soccer League.
Walk of Fame
In 2004 a Legends Walk of Fame was put in place outside the stadium. Initially, it featured the name of 16 past greats who were inducted into a St George Dragons Hall of Fame. This included the likes of Mark Coyne, Red ‘Rocket’ Reddy, Craig Young and Eddie Lumsden.
Since then, Billy Wilson, Robert Stone, Ben Creagh and the entire 1921 inaugural team of the Dragons have also been admitted into it.
Facilities
To enhance the matchday experience of spectators, Netstrata Jubilee Stadium offers a good range of facilities.
One of the most impressive is its grandstands which feature comfortable and shaded seats that offer terrific views of the field. The stadium also offers good accessibility for those with disabilities, including wheelchair-accessible seating areas and accessible restrooms.
Presiding over the pitch are very bright floodlights that enable playing night games. There is also a big video screen scoreboard that allows spectators to constantly keep up with the score and see action replays during the game.
While the stadium provides parking facilities for visitors, including general parking areas and those designated for disabled individuals, these spots tend to fill quickly. So it is advisable to get to the ground as early as possible.
Like most stadiums in Australia, Netstrata Jubilee Stadium has a wide range of food and beverage outlets. It also has several corporate suites that offer a more exclusive experience, with premium seating, catering services, and dedicated staff to attend to the guests.
For those wanting to buy souvenirs, merchandise or memorabilia related to the match or any other event, there is a shop onsite where you can pick these items up.
How to get to the stadium
There are several ways to get to Netstrata Jubilee Stadium on match days.
If you intend to drive from the Sydney CBD, you can take the Princes Highway southbound towards Kogarah, then follow the signs to Jubilee Stadium. Be aware that parking is limited at the stadium.
A better option may be to take public transportation. The Kogarah train station is the closest one to the stadium. It is part of the Illawarra Line and is easily accessible from various points in Sydney. For those preferring to travel by bus, there are several routes that service the area around the stadium. Bus stops near the stadium include those on Princes Highway and Railway Parade.
Arguably the most convenient option is a taxi or rideshare service like Uber. There are specific zones at the stadium for drop-offs by them.
Food Options
When it comes to food options, the Netstrata Jubilee Stadium offers a decent range of culinary options for those wanting a bite to eat during the game.
These include a number of kiosk outlets dotted around the stadium, offering a range of traditional stadium fares like hot dogs, burgers, pizza slices and chips.
Additionally, every now and then, there may be some food trucks set up outside the stadium, more often than not presenting various international options.
As well as these choices, the stadium has various catering packages available for business events and private functions.
For those who want a drink, numerous licensed bars around the venue offer a wide selection of beers and other alcoholic beverages.
Accommodation near the ground
If you need a place to stay when visiting the Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, many options are available.
One of the most popular is the St. George Motor Inn. Situated in the heart of Kogarah, it offers affordable and comfortable rooms and convenient access to the stadium. In nearby Brighton-Le-Sands, the Novotel Sydney Brighton Beach is an excellent option for those who want to stay near the beach. It offers comfortable rooms, some of which offer splendid ocean views. The hotel is also surrounded by plenty of dining options and other entertainment venues.
For those wanting to stay near the airport, the Rydges Sydney Airport Hotel and Adina Apartment Hotel Sydney Airport provide modern and spacious rooms and an excellent range of amenities including a bar and restaurant.
Elsewhere, the Metro Hotel in the neighbouring suburb of Miranda is another terrific choice for those requiring a cosy and affordable place to stay not far from the stadium.
Good pubs to visit
For those wanting to grab a beer or bite to eat before or after that game, there are a number of excellent pubs they can head to near the ground.
Located on Forest Road in Bexley, The Forest Inn Hotel is a very popular pub with sports fans. It always has a warm and friendly atmosphere, usually with plenty of Dragons fans. They also offer a terrific range of beers, wines, and spirits and a delicious menu featuring classic pub fare.
If you would like to go somewhere closer to the stadium, the Kogarah Hotel on Princes Highway is a great option. Known for its excellent selection of craft beers and live entertainment, they also have a spacious outdoor beer garden, a sports bar with big screens, and a bistro serving tasty meals.
Another good option is The Bayview Hotel in Brighton-Le-Sands. A fabulous pub that oozes character, it offers beautiful views of Botany Bay in which to enjoy one of their diverse range of beers on tap. The food there is top notch too.
Alternatively, you might prefer to head to The Belmore Hotel on Burwood Road in Belmore. It is a classic Australian pub known for its friendly service and lively atmosphere, which always shows live sport on its big screen TVs.
Quick Stats
Address: 249 Princes Hwy, Kogarah NSW 2218
Capacity: 20,500
Opened: 1936
Construction Cost: Not Recorded
Field size: Not Recorded
Record attendance: Record attendance: 23,582 – St George vs South Sydney, 1975