Newcastle Jets v Macarthur FC on Saturday 24 October: Train, Bus and Parking at McDonald Jones Stadium (Newcastle, NSW)

This has now finished. The details below applied up to Saturday 24 October 2026 and are kept as a record.

For the Newcastle Jets match against Macarthur FC on Saturday 24 October, gates open at 2pm for a 3pm kick-off at McDonald Jones Stadium. The closest station is Broadmeadow, a 15 to 20-minute walk away, and Transport for NSW says to pre-book stadium parking through Ticketmaster or use nearby local parking.

The match is the Jets’ first home league game of the 2026/27 season, according to the club’s website. The details below come from the Transport for NSW event page and the club’s A-League Men’s match-day guide. The same ground hosts Rugby League World Cup games; for the semi-finals on 7 November see our Rugby League World Cup guide.

What time does it start and finish?

Item	Time on Saturday 24 October
Gates open	2pm
Kick-off	3pm
Finish	5pm

The club’s guide says the membership services window opens at 2pm. Members need a physical or digital membership card to get in, and membership caps can be collected in the Western grandstand on level one. Without a membership, you buy a ticket through the club’s ticketing link.

Can I take the train?

Yes. Transport for NSW says the closest station to McDonald Jones Stadium is Broadmeadow on the Central Coast & Newcastle Line, about a 15 to 20-minute walk (1.5 km). The Jets’ guide says trains arrive from Newcastle Interchange every hour in the lead-up to the match.

You need an Opal card or a contactless payment card or device to travel to and from the event. Transport for NSW suggests registering your details online with Opal or in the Opal Travel app beforehand. If you pay with an American Express, Mastercard or Visa card or a linked device, adult Opal fare pricing applies and you receive Opal benefits, including daily and weekly fare caps.

Is there trackwork in Sydney that day?

If you are coming from Sydney, Transport for NSW lists planned trackwork on Saturday 24 October. On the City Circle, trains do not run on the loop or between Central and Wynyard. The Central Coast & Newcastle Line and the Blue Mountains Line may run to a changed timetable because of trackwork between Strathfield and Central, and the page says City Circle trackwork may also affect how you travel. It also lists changes on most other Sydney lines. From Sydney Metro, change at Epping or Central for a Central Coast & Newcastle Line train to Broadmeadow. Check the Trip Planner before you leave.

Which buses go to the stadium?

The closest bus stops are on Turton Road and Lambton Road, and Transport for NSW says regular routes 13, 23, 25, 26 and 27 run towards the stadium. The Jets’ guide says several bus stops are within a ten-minute walk, with various routes covering them. The Transport for NSW page for this match does not list stadium shuttle buses, so check Newcastle Transport and the Trip Planner for the current bus network.

What about the ferry and light rail?

Ferries run between Stockton and Queens Wharf approximately every 20 minutes. At Queens Wharf, change for a light rail service to Newcastle Interchange, then connect with a train to Broadmeadow. Alternatively, from King Street near Perkins Street, you can catch a route 13 bus to Lambton Road, within a short walk of the stadium.

Newcastle light rail runs from 5am to 1am daily. For this match Transport for NSW says to catch light rail to Newcastle Interchange and change for a train to Broadmeadow. Our Newcastle fares and how to pay guide explains tapping on and off.

Where can I park?

Pre-paid parking on game days is available only for vehicles with a pre-paid parking ticket, sold through Ticketmaster online, by phone or at the Ticketmaster box office at McDonald Jones Stadium. The club’s guide also says several streets a short walk from the stadium have free parking, naming Monash Road and Young Road. Obey the signs on those streets, because the guide does not list their time limits.

Transport for NSW suggests travelling with your group and allowing extra time, because traffic may be heavier than usual on the approach roads. It names Turton Road and Griffiths Road, and points to Live Traffic NSW for real-time conditions.

Disabled parking areas are close to each of the stadium’s accessible entries. To buy mobility parking, phone Ticketmaster on 136 100 or visit the Ticketmaster box office at the stadium.

Where do drop-offs, taxis and rideshare go?

• Passenger drop-off: the allocated 10-minute loading zone in the stadium car park. Entry is via the driveway off Turton Road.
• Taxi and rideshare pick-up and drop-off: Young Road, Broadmeadow. After the match, follow the signs to Young Road.
• Newcastle Taxis: 13 33 00.

What is it like inside the stadium?

The club’s guide says McDonald Jones Stadium is a cashless venue, and food and drink outlets, including several licensed bars, take EFTPOS only. Baby change facilities are in the Western grandstand, level 1 (bays 52 and 58) and the Eastern grandstand, level 1 (bays 2 and 5). A sensory room is at bay 55 on the Western level 1 concourse.

For accessibility, the club lists accessible entry at gates 2, 3 and 4. Access to the Eastern Stand and South Hill is via Gate L and the Southwest Ramp. Lifts in the centre of both grandstands reach all levels, and reserved accessible seating is in both grandstands. Wheelchair users are also welcome in the general admission areas on the flat sections at the top of the hills. Transport for NSW says accessible trips show in the Trip Planner with the wheelchair icon, and you can choose “accessible services only” in the options.

The club’s guide also lists activities around the match, including a DJ on the grass tiers near Bay One, Jets merchandise on tier one of the Western grandstand and a kids-on-the-field session after the match, with players signing autographs and posing for photos before it. Contact membership@newcastlejetsfc.com.au with membership questions.

Which bus does the club recommend?

The Jets’ stadium page recommends bus route 27 for games, saying it stops on the nearby corner of Young Road and Turton Road. The same page puts the stadium 1.5 km from Broadmeadow station and says people who live close enough to drive can buy parking on the western side of the venue or find parking in the surrounding suburbs. The club recommends buying match tickets in advance from Ticketmaster.

Can I leave and come back, and can I smoke?

The club’s stadium page says McDonald Jones Stadium is a completely smoke-free venue. A pass-out system is in place, and staff can direct you to approved smoking locations outside the venue.

Where else does the Jets’ home ground get used?

According to the club, the stadium is also home to the Newcastle Knights rugby league team and has hosted rugby union, baseball and motocross. The record Jets crowd at the ground is 29,410, for the 2018 A-League Grand Final against Melbourne Victory. Newcastle Airport serves all of Australia’s capital cities, the club says, for fans travelling from interstate.

Sources

• Transport for NSW — A-League Men: Newcastle Jets v Macarthur FC (checked 23 October 2026)
• Newcastle Jets — A-League Men’s Match-Day Guide 2026/27
• Newcastle Jets — Our stadium

Featured image: McDonald Jones Stadium (photo: NAPARAZZI / CC BY-SA 2.0) (text added)

OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with the Newcastle Jets, McDonald Jones Stadium, Ticketmaster, Transport for NSW or Newcastle Transport. Event details can change; check the official pages above and the signs on the day.