A new chapter for hospitality at Afterpay Arena was unveiled last Tuesday as Sponsors and Corporate Suite Partners gathered for an exclusive preview of the venue’s new Corporate Suite menu and a look at the future of Australasia’s premier live entertainment destination.
The evening provided guests with insight into the exciting transformation underway at Afterpay Arena, highlighting a vision that extends far beyond a new name. Guests heard from Michael Saadat, Head of International Public Policy & Government Affairs at Block, who shared the thinking behind this landmark partnership and Afterpay’s vision for the future of the Arena. As he outlined, the transformation will deliver much more than a rebrand, with enhancements across technology, hospitality spaces and the overall guest journey, further strengthening Afterpay Arena’s position as a world-class destination for live entertainment.
Guests also heard from Executive Chef Justin Zammit, who shared the inspiration behind the new Corporate Suite menu and his vision for the future of hospitality at the Arena. Drawing on extensive industry experience, Justin’s approach centres on redefining the relationship between food and live entertainment, creating dining experiences that are as memorable as the event itself.
Attendees enjoyed an exclusive first taste of the new menu, experiencing a range of live food stations, roving canapés and a signature dessert offering. The menu has been carefully designed to deliver greater variety, quality and theatre, enhancing the premium experience available to Corporate Suite guests.
The evening’s food offering was complemented by a curated beverage selection made possible through the support of valued partners CUB, Asahi Lifestyle Beverages, Diageo, Suntory and Vinarchy.
As Afterpay Arena continues to strengthen its position as one of the world’s leading entertainment venues, the combination of world-class events, private hospitality, and elevated culinary experiences will provide Corporate Suite Holders with even more opportunities to entertain clients, strengthen relationships and create memorable experiences.
The new Corporate Suite menu launches on 1 October, marking another step forward in the evolution of the Afterpay Arena experience.
To learn more about corporate opportunities at Afterpay Arena, email us at partnerships@afterpayarena.com.au
Exclusive renders reveal a venue-wide overhaul – from Australia’s first arena foyer screens of their kind to the country’s most comprehensive integrated venue commerce ecosystem
DISTRIBUTED-WORK-MODEL/SYDNEY, June 18, 2026 – Afterpay today unveiled the first interior renders of the transformation underway at Afterpay Arena, offering an exclusive look at the design-led overhaul of Australia’s most iconic indoor entertainment venue.
The transformation – spanning two redesigned bar and hospitality spaces, a complete foyer uplift, and a venue-wide wayfinding system – has been built around a single organising idea: that every moment inside Afterpay Arena belongs to elevating the fan experience.
“There are two sides to a great live experience. There’s the excitement that drives you to purchase the tickets, and then there’s what you actually came to the Arena for – the moment you get to see your favourite band, team, or comedian live,” said Nick Molnar, Co-founder and CEO of Afterpay. “Everything you’re seeing in these designs has been built around making that in-person moment memorable.”
The project has been delivered in collaboration with creative agency BUCK, architect The Studio* Collaborative, and technology and signage specialists Beyond Media.
A Gallery, Not a Billboard
Central to BUCK’s creative strategy is the reimagining of the venue as a gallery – one where every touchpoint becomes an opportunity for art, discovery, and atmosphere.
“BUCK reimagined Afterpay Arena as a gallery, flipping the typical sponsored environment on its head. Instead of treating the walls as advertising real estate, we treated them as opportunities for art and discovery. This approach extends the project’s grounding philosophy of ‘time well spent’ to the entire fan journey – from the entrance, through the pre-show anticipation, and into the event itself.” said Emma Kaniuk, Brand Creative Director, BUCK
A Transformation Felt Across Every Corner of the Venue
The scope of the refurbishment is venue-wide. The centrepiece of the new foyer is one of the world’s largest transparent holographic LED installations – three 7-metre-wide immersive screens suspended from the ceiling and integrated directly into the venue entry experience. At 92% transparency, the effect is less screen, more atmosphere: washes of colour and movement that heighten anticipation before patrons even reach the Arena floor.
“To our knowledge, this will be the third-largest transparent LED installation of its kind in the world – but the scale is only part of the story. What makes it truly unique is how the technology disappears into the architecture. Rather than functioning as a screen or advertising surface, it becomes part of the arrival experience itself.” said Tom Matthews, Managing Director, Beyond Media.
Digital wayfinding screens throughout the foyer and at key entry points form part of a venue-wide navigation system designed for the full range of visitors. Every step of the journey has been mapped to reduce cognitive load, support intuitive inference, ensuring the experience works for every person in the arena.
The Bars and Hospitality Spaces
The two redesigned bar and hospitality spaces – a casual, family-friendly lower bar and a refined upper lounge – were designed by The Studio* Collaborative to feel distinct yet connected, unified through a shared material language while responding to the different atmospheres and operational needs of each.
“The design vision for the transformation was centred on elevating the user experience through a contemporary, hospitality-led environment that feels immersive, energetic, and distinctly connected to the Afterpay brand, while remaining respectful of the venue’s existing architectural character and scale.” said Renee Gigliotti, Associate Director, The Studio* Collaborative.
The architectural language draws directly from the Afterpay brand through the use of rounded forms, pill-shaped references, and softened detailing, balanced against a restrained monochromatic palette of greys, whites, and bold black elements. Subtle textural variation, reflective finishes, and adaptable lighting introduce depth, movement, and atmosphere in a refined and considered manner.
In a commitment to environmental responsibility, the project team worked with the venue’s existing infrastructure wherever possible – repurposing existing signage frames and mounts to reduce onsite waste, and introducing new hardware only where strictly necessary for legibility and impact.
Australia’s Most Comprehensive Square-Powered Venue Commerce Deployment
Alongside the physical transformation, Afterpay Arena will be home to the most comprehensive Square commerce deployment within any Australian entertainment venue – a unified payments, hospitality, and merchandise ecosystem powered by Square across food and beverage, retail, and merchandise operations throughout the venue.
The deployment will span 150 Square Registers and 65 Square Handheld devices across bars, concessions, premium hospitality spaces, and merchandise outlets throughout the arena – so every transaction is as fast as possible, and fans spend more time where they came to be.
What’s Coming
Among the first shows to take the stage at the transformed Afterpay Arena will be Laufey, Alex Warren, Tame Impala, J Cole, Khalid, Robyn, Louis Tomlinson, Olivia Dean, Zara Larsson, and Hilary Duff – with a full calendar of world-class entertainment to follow.
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About Block, Inc.
Block, Inc. (NYSE: SQ; ASX: SQ2) is a global technology company with a focus on financial services. Block’s portfolio of brands includes Square, Afterpay, Cash App, and TIDAL. For more information, visit block.xyz.
About Afterpay
Afterpay is a global leader in flexible payment solutions, empowering millions of customers to access the products and experiences they love through four interest-free instalments. Afterpay is part of Block, Inc. (NYSE: SQ; ASX: SQ2). For more information, visit afterpay.com.
About Square
Square helps businesses turn transactions into connections and businesses into neighbourhood favourites. In 2009, Square started with a simple invention – the first mobile card reader, which changed how the entire financial system thinks about small businesses. Square has since grown into a global business platform helping millions of sellers of all sizes participate and thrive in their communities. Whether independently run or a global chain, Square understands that sellers succeed when they have the freedom to focus on the experiences that keep customers coming back. From point of sale and payments to online commerce, staff management, cash flow tools, and more, Square brings together the tools sellers need to run and grow on one intelligent platform. For more information, visit squareup.com.
ABOUT THE ARENA
The currently named Qudos Bank Arena is Australasia’s number one venue for live entertainment and the region’s largest indoor arena. Leased by TEG and operated by Legends Global, the world-class venue works alongside its partners to bring leading live entertainment experiences to Sydney, spanning concerts, sports events, comedy and family entertainment. In 2025, the Arena was named among Billboard magazine’s Top 5 Live Music Venues in the World, reflecting its reputation as one of the world’s leading live entertainment destinations. https://qudosbankarena.com.au [linkprotect.cudasvc.com]
About BUCK
BUCK is a design-driven, global creative company with offices in New York, Los Angeles, Sydney, Amsterdam, Vancouver, and London. Founded in 2004, BUCK has built a reputation for outstanding craftsmanship and innovation through collaboration with a wide range of clients across the cultural and technology spheres, including Apple, Instagram, IBM, Nike, Airbnb, Paypal, and Pepsi.
Recognized as an industry leader, BUCK’s trophy case includes two Emmys, multiple gold Cannes Lions, Clios, pencils, cubes, and over 200 other awards from the most prestigious competitions in the world. BUCK is proud to be a B Corp, cementing the company’s long-standing commitment to purposeful work for positive impact on the planet, and using business as a force for good.
The Studio* Collaborative is an award-winning interior environment consultancy specialising in workplace, hospitality, retail, and learning environments. Combining strategic thinking with design expertise, The Studio* creates innovative spaces that enable people to work, learn, engage, and connect.
For the last ten years, the team has partnered with global brands, high-growth start-ups, not-for-profits, and education providers to deliver tailored, people-focused environments.
For more than five years, The Studio* has partnered with Afterpay to deliver a number of award-winning workplace projects, including The Brewery headquarters in Sydney and Afterpay’s Melbourne workplace. Through this longstanding relationship, The Studio* has developed a deep understanding of the Afterpay brand and culture, creating environments that authentically reflect its identity and bring the brand to life through engaging spatial experiences.
The Studio* is honoured to once again collaborate with Afterpay on this exciting project, continuing a partnership built on trust, shared ambition, and a commitment to creating exceptional spaces.
About Beyond Media
Beyond Media is a leading Australian signage, wayfinding, and venue communications specialist. The company works with major venues, entertainment precincts, retail destinations, and public spaces to create engaging visitor experiences through the integration of signage, digital displays, environmental graphics, and wayfinding systems.
Combining strategic thinking with technical delivery expertise, Beyond Media provides end-to-end services spanning design management, procurement, fabrication, installation, and technology integration. Its work can be found across some of Australia’s most recognised venues and destination projects.
May 20, 2026 – Afterpay, the leading buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) platform, today announced a naming rights partnership that will transform the venue currently known as Qudos Bank Arena into Afterpay Arena – recently awarded the number five arena in the world and Australia’s most iconic live entertainment destination.
The partnership, set to officially launch in the coming months with an initial five-year deal, will see the iconic Sydney Olympic Park venue become the first major entertainment destination in Australia to offer complete payment flexibility across the entire customer experience – from initial ticket purchase through to meal and merchandise transactions inside the venue.
New research commissioned by Afterpay reveals that access remains the defining challenge for Australia’s live entertainment industry: 94% of cost-affected event-goers have missed events due to upfront payment barriers. The opportunity is clear – 58% of consumers say they would be more likely to attend with flexible payment options available, and 74% would spend more at venues that offer payment choice.
The partnership leverages Block’s complete payment ecosystem, bringing together Afterpay’s flexible payment solution for ticket purchases and Square’s integrated payments and POS platform across in-venue transaction. Fans can split ticket purchases across four interest-free installments, while Square powers faster food, beverage, and merchandise transactions throughout the venue – minimising time away from the live experience and keeping fans where they came to be.
“Live experiences are one of the more meaningful ways people chose to spend their time, we wanted to be the brand that makes sure nothing gets in the way of that,” said Nick Molnar, Co-founder and CEO of Afterpay.
“What we’ve built here is genuinely end-to-end – the flexibility starts when you buy your ticket and carries through to fans’ meal and piece of merch on the night. Square’s technology makes every transaction as fast as possible, because every second you’re standing in line for merch is a second you’re not in the moment you came for,” said Molnar.
Since opening with Luciano Pavarotti in 1999, the Arena has become a landmark venue for live entertainment in Sydney, hosting the world’s leading artists from Billie Eilish to Rüfüs Du Sol to TWICE, major sporting events, comedy, family entertainment and cultural experiences. The Arena’s 15 millionth ticket was sold during Linkin Park’s Tour 2026 World Tour, adding to the recognition by Billboard magazine as a Top 5 Live Music Venue globally in 2025.
“We are obsessed with enhancing the guest experience at every interaction, and we know Afterpay’s popularity with Australian audiences means they now have another option to secure tickets,” said Harvey Lister AM, President & Chief Executive, Legends Global (Asia Pacific & Middle East).
“More than 1.1 million people walk through this Arena doors every year, and this partnership represents a significant evolution in how Australians access live entertainment. Afterpay’s five-year commitment is a genuine investment in Australian culture and in every single one of those fans,” he added. The physical transformation of the venue – including new external signage, interior refreshes, and fully integrated Afterpay and Square touchpoints throughout – is currently underway, with further milestones to be announced in the coming months. During this period, the venue will continue to be known as Qudos Bank Arena and will host its full calendar of world-class entertainment throughout the transition.
– a new era awaits world-class entertainment, sporting and cultural venue –
(Sydney, May 13, 2026) Ticketek Entertainment Group (TEG), Legends Global and Qudos Bank today announced the end of Qudos Bank’s 10-year naming rights partnership with Sydney Olympic Park’s landmark arena, following a highly successful decade-long association.
The venue, leased by TEG and proudly operated by Legends Global, will continue to operate as normal, with no change to scheduled events, bookings, ticketing or operations. A new naming rights partner will be announced later this month.
Since becoming naming rights partner in April 2016, Qudos Bank has been at the heart of Sydney’s cultural, sporting and live entertainment landscape during a defining decade for the arena.
Over that time, the venue has strengthened its position as one of Australia’s most important destinations for major events, welcoming millions of fans and hosting some of the world’s biggest artists, athletes and live entertainment brands.
During the Qudos Bank naming rights partnership, the arena has achieved significant growth, global recognition and record-breaking live entertainment moments, including being named a Top-5 Live Music Venue in the world for 2025 by Billboard magazine.
Across live music, sport, comedy and family entertainment, the venue has delivered record-breaking box office results, sell-out tours and landmark attendance achievements.
In March, it celebrated the sale of its 15 millionth ticket at Linkin Park, adding to recent highlights including an Australian box office record of $14.4 million for UFC 325, Billie Eilish setting a new single-event attendance record, and event spectaculars from P!NK, Katy Perry, TWICE and RÜFÜS DU SOL.
Originally opened in November 1999 with a performance by Luciano Pavarotti and built for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, the arena has evolved from the Sydney SuperDome to Acer Arena, Allphones Arena and, most recently, Qudos Bank Arena, becoming one of Sydney’s most iconic entertainment landmarks.
Cameron Hoy, Chief Operating Officer, Ticketek Entertainment Group, said Qudos Bank had been a valued long-term partner throughout a defining period for the arena.
“We are delighted that Qudos Bank has played such an important role in the Arena’s history. This long-term partnership is a testament to the value of bringing together ambition, commitment and a shared focus on delivering memorable experiences for fans. We sincerely thank Qudos Bank for its contribution to one of the world’s most iconic and visited venues.”
President & Chief Executive (Asia Pacific & Middle East) Legends Global, Harvey Lister AM, said the arena remained strongly positioned for its next chapter.
“This venue remains one of Australia’s most important live entertainment destinations, with a bright future ahead. We are grateful to Qudos Bank for their decade of commitment, collaboration and shared community focus,” said Lister.
Reflecting on the partnership, Kevin Ramsdale, Qudos Bank Chief Marketing Officer, said the naming rights agreement had played an important role in growing the Bank’s brand presence and connection with Sydney audiences over the past decade.
“We’re proud of our long association with this iconic venue and the many moments we’ve shared with the community. This partnership not only helped establish the Qudos Bank brand in the market, it allowed us to play a small part in supporting the cultural life of Sydney. After 10 successful years, now is a natural and timely moment for our naming rights partnership to come to a close,” added Ramsdale.
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ABOUT LEGENDS GLOBAL
Legends Global is the premier partner to the world’s greatest live events, venues, and brands, delivering a fully integrated solution of premium services, including feasibility and consulting, project development, sales, partnerships, venue management, hospitality, merchandise, and content and booking. Its unique approach ensures its partners remain front and centre while harnessing the power of its global network – including over 450 venues, 20,000 events, and 165 million guests annually – to enhance their business and guest experience. www.LegendsGlobal.com
ABOUT TEG
Ticketek Entertainment Group (TEG) is a Fan Experience Group, powered by digital, data, and technology, united by our purpose – We Partner to Make Life Better Live. With the Fan as its Star, TEG brings together Ticketek, TEG Touring, TEG Sport, TEG Experiences, and Ovation to create, promote, and power world-class live entertainment.
From global concert tours and major sporting events to immersive family and cultural experiences, TEG makes it easier for Fans to find, and attend unforgettable events.
