Newcastle Jets v Wellington Phoenix on Saturday 31 October: 3pm Kick-Off, Buses Replace Trains to Broadmeadow, Stadium Parking Pre-Paid Only (Newcastle, NSW)

The Newcastle Jets host Wellington Phoenix at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday 31 October 2026, kick-off 3pm, and Transport for NSW says buses replace trains to and from Broadmeadow, the closest station, on the day. If you normally take the train to the Jets, plan for a rail replacement bus and leave more time than usual.

This guide is built from the Transport for NSW event page for the match, checked on 26 October 2026, plus the Newcastle Jets’ own stadium page and match-day guide. If you came here for the previous home game, our 24 October guide covers a day when trains were running. For the Rugby League World Cup semi-finals at the same ground on 7 November, see the Rugby League World Cup guide.

What time is kick-off, and when do the gates open?

Item	Saturday 31 October
Gates open	Not yet published by Transport for NSW
Kick-off	3pm
Finish	4:45pm

All times are Newcastle time, which is on daylight saving (AEDT, UTC+11) in October. Transport for NSW has not yet published a gate opening time for this game, so do not assume it matches the 2pm opening listed for the 24 October match. The Jets’ match-day guide on their website still shows the 24 October fixture, so check it again closer to the day for membership desk hours and activations.

Can I catch the train to Broadmeadow on 31 October?

Not the way you normally would. Transport for NSW says the closest station to the stadium is Broadmeadow on the Central Coast & Newcastle Line, but planned trackwork on the day means buses replace trains to and from Broadmeadow. Its event page lists these replacements:

• Buses replace trains between Hornsby and Newcastle Interchange on the Central Coast & Newcastle Line.
• Buses also replace trains between Scone, Dungog and Newcastle Interchange on the Hunter Line.
• On the T1 North Shore Line, buses replace trains between Berowra and Hornsby.
• On the T9 Northern Line, buses replace trains between Hornsby and Strathfield.

The page tells fans they need to catch rail replacement buses to get to and from the stadium, to allow extra time, and to use the Trip Planner. Remember to tap on and off with an Opal card or a contactless payment card or device. Transport for NSW suggests registering your details online with Opal or in the Opal Travel app beforehand. Our Newcastle fares and how to pay guide explains tapping on and off.

I am coming from Sydney. What should I do?

Transport for NSW lists trackwork on a long list of Sydney lines on Saturday 31 October, and the page for this match warns of major trackwork on the T1 North Shore, T9 Northern and Central Coast & Newcastle lines. For Sydney Metro passengers, it says to change at Chatswood for trains to Hornsby, then take replacement buses to Broadmeadow.

The same notice says Hornsby to the City trains on the T1 North Shore Line run, some to a changed timetable. It also lists changes on the T1 Western, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6 and T7 lines, the Blue Mountains Line and the South Coast Line. Which of those matters depends on where you start, so put your starting station into the Trip Planner for the Saturday afternoon rather than relying on a general timetable. The event page does not give a replacement bus timetable or a journey time, so the Trip Planner is the place to get those.

Which buses go to the stadium?

The closest bus stops to McDonald Jones Stadium are on Turton Road and Lambton Road. Transport for NSW says regular routes 13, 23, 25, 26 and 27 run towards the stadium and points to Newcastle Transport information for the wider bus network. The Jets’ stadium page recommends route 27, saying it stops on the nearby corner of Young Road and Turton Road. The Transport for NSW page for this match does not list dedicated stadium shuttles, so check the Trip Planner for the service you plan to use.

If you are starting from	What Transport for NSW says
Newcastle city centre by light rail	Light rail to Newcastle Interchange, then a replacement bus to Broadmeadow, with the stadium within walking distance
Stockton by ferry	Ferry to Queens Wharf, light rail to Newcastle Interchange, then a replacement bus to Broadmeadow; or a route 13 bus from King Street near Perkins Street to Lambton Road
Anywhere on the bus network	Routes 13, 23, 25, 26 and 27 run towards Turton Road and Lambton Road

How do the ferry and light rail fit in?

Ferries run between Stockton and Queens Wharf approximately every 20 minutes, according to Transport for NSW. Newcastle light rail runs from 5am to 1am daily between Newcastle Interchange in Wickham and Pacific Park in Newcastle East, with six stops. For this match, the light rail connection is to Newcastle Interchange, where you change for the replacement bus to Broadmeadow. On 24 October the same page said to change for a train there, so the plan for 31 October is different.

Can I park at the stadium?

Only with a pre-paid ticket. Transport for NSW says pre-paid parking on game days and major events is available only for vehicles with a pre-paid parking ticket. Tickets are sold through Ticketmaster online, by phone or at the Ticketmaster box office at the stadium. Transport for NSW advises travelling with your group and pre-booking stadium parking, or using nearby local parking.

The club’s most recent match-day guide says several streets a short walk from the stadium have free parking, naming Monash Road and Young Road. That guide was published for the 24 October game, and the club has not yet put up one for 31 October, so treat the street names as a starting point and follow the signs, because the guide does not give time limits.

Transport for NSW warns that traffic may be heavier than usual on the approach roads, naming Turton Road and Griffiths Road, and points to Live Traffic NSW for current conditions. Disabled parking areas are near 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, with entry 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.

Is the stadium accessible?

The club lists accessible entry at gates 2, 3 and 4, and access to the Eastern Stand and South Hill via Gate L and the Southwest Ramp. Lifts in the centre of both grandstands reach all levels, and reserved accessible seating is in both the Eastern and Western grandstands. Wheelchair users are also welcome in general admission areas on the flat sections at the top of the hills. A sensory room is at bay 55 on the Western level 1 concourse. For accessible travel, 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.

What should I know about the venue?

According to the club, McDonald Jones Stadium is a cashless venue, so food and drink outlets, including several licensed bars, take EFTPOS only. The venue is smoke-free, with a pass-out system in place and staff able to direct you to approved smoking locations outside. The club recommends buying match tickets in advance from Ticketmaster, and members need a physical or digital membership card to get in. Membership questions go to membership@newcastlejetsfc.com.au.

The stadium has a maximum capacity of 33,000, and the record Jets crowd there is 29,410, for the 2018 A-League Grand Final against Melbourne Victory, according to the club.

Sources

• Transport for NSW — A-League Men: Newcastle Jets v Wellington Phoenix (checked 26 October 2026)
• Newcastle Jets — A-League Men’s Match-Day Guide 2026/27 (still showing the 24 October game when checked)
• Newcastle Jets — Our stadium

Featured image: Newcastle Interchange bus terminal (photo: Abesty / CC BY-SA 4.0) (text added)

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