NBL Sydney Double Header at Afterpay Arena, Sunday 8 November 2026: Buses Replace Trains to Lidcombe, Doors 12pm, $40 Parking (Sydney, NSW)

On Sunday 8 November 2026, the day of the NBL Sydney Double Header at Afterpay Arena, buses replace trains between Liverpool and Lidcombe and between Bankstown and Lidcombe, according to Transport for NSW. Doors open at 12pm, the NBLW game starts at 12:30pm, the NBL game starts at 2:45pm and the day finishes at 5pm. Trains run regularly to Olympic Park from Lidcombe, and the venue is a short walk from the station. Sydney is on daylight saving time (AEDT) in November, so all times here are Sydney time.

This guide is based on the Transport for NSW event page, read on 3 November 2026. The venue’s earlier concerts this fortnight have their own guides, including Daniel Caesar on 5 and 6 November.

What are the games, and when do they start?

Time	What
12pm	Doors open
12:30pm	NBLW: Sydney Flames v Southside Flyers
2:45pm	NBL: Sydney Kings v S.E. Melbourne Phoenix
5pm	Finish

Both games are on Sunday 8 November at Afterpay Arena, Sydney Olympic Park, as listed on the Transport for NSW page.

Does my ticket cover public transport?

The page does not say it does. Transport for NSW says you need an Opal card or a contactless payment card or device when travelling on public transport to and from the event, and suggests registering your details online or in the Opal Travel app ahead of time. If you have a contactless-enabled American Express, Mastercard or Visa debit or credit card, or a linked device, you can tap on and tap off at Opal card readers on all public transport. Adult Opal fare pricing applies, and you receive Opal benefits, including daily and weekly fare caps. Transport for NSW also says to top up your Opal card before you travel, online or at an Opal retailer, to avoid waiting in line at top-up machines. For the fare rules, see our Opal fares guide.

Which train do I catch?

The closest station to Afterpay Arena is Olympic Park. Trains run regularly to Lidcombe, where you go to Platform Zero for a direct train to Olympic Park every 10 minutes until late. The page says extra services will be running. If you are on Sydney Metro, the M1 line runs turn-up-and-go services between Tallawong, Chatswood and Bankstown from early morning until late; change at Epping, Central or Bankstown for trains towards Lidcombe, then Olympic Park.

What trackwork affects trains on Sunday 8 November?

A lot of lines. Planned trackwork on Sunday 8 November may affect how you travel to and from Sydney Olympic Park, and the page tells you to allow extra travel time and plan your trip with the Trip Planner. The page does not give start and end times for these changes.

Line	What changes
City Circle	Trains do not run around the City Circle but continue between Central, Town Hall and Wynyard, continuing to T1 North Shore Line stations. For Circular Quay, St James or Museum use light rail, local buses or walk
T1 Western	Richmond trains run to a changed timetable and stopping pattern between Richmond and Olympic Park; you may need to change trains
T2 Leppington & Inner West	Buses replace trains between Macarthur, Glenfield and Fairfield. Changed timetable and stopping pattern between Leppington and the City via the Airport, between Fairfield and Central (platforms 1-14) and between Homebush and North Sydney
T3 Liverpool & Inner West	Buses replace trains between Liverpool and Lidcombe. Trains run between Lidcombe and the City to a changed timetable and frequency. Inner West trains run between Homebush and North Sydney
T4 Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra	All Cronulla and some Waterfall trains make extra stops at St Peters and Erskineville
T5 Cumberland	Buses replace trains between Glenfield and Fairfield. Changed timetable between Fairfield and the City, between Richmond and Olympic Park and between Schofields and Parramatta
T6 Lidcombe & Bankstown	Buses replace trains between Bankstown and Lidcombe. Change at Lidcombe for trains towards the City or T1 Western stations, at Regents Park for buses towards Liverpool, and at Bankstown for Metro
T8 Airport & South	Buses replace trains between Macarthur, Glenfield and Fairfield. Most trains run to a changed timetable between Leppington and Central (platforms 1-14) via Sydenham, or between Revesby and Central via the Airport
T9 Northern	Trains make an extra stop at Ashfield
Southern Highlands	Buses replace trains between Goulburn, Moss Vale and Glenfield; T8 trains run to a changed timetable between Glenfield and the City via the Airport

Transport for NSW adds that trackwork on the City Circle may also affect how you travel on several of these lines.

Which buses, ferries and light rail connect?

Transport for NSW lists three route buses towards Olympic Park. Route 525 runs between Parramatta and Lidcombe; connect with trains to continue to Olympic Park. Route 526 runs between Strathfield and Rhodes Shopping Centre via the Sydney Olympic Park precinct and wharf. Route 533 runs between Sydney Olympic Park and Chatswood via Rhodes and North Ryde.

The closest ferry stop is Sydney Olympic Park Wharf. The 526 bus connects to the venue, or the page puts the walk at about 40 minutes (3.6km). F3 Parramatta River services run regularly to Olympic Park but are very popular and may reach capacity, and low tide between Parramatta and Rydalmere may mean buses replace them.

Light rail line	How to reach Olympic Park
L1 Dulwich Hill	Change at Central for trains to Lidcombe, then Olympic Park
L2 Randwick and L3 Kingsford	Change at Central for trains to Lidcombe, then Olympic Park
L4 Westmead and Carlingford	Alight at Parramatta Square and take a train towards Lidcombe from Parramatta station, then Olympic Park

All four light rail lines run regularly from 5am to 1am daily, according to the page.

Can I park at Sydney Olympic Park?

Yes, with a booking. Transport for NSW says to pre-book parking online, available until 11:59pm the night before the event unless sold out earlier, and that a flat rate $40 parking fee applies. With a pre-booked space, follow staff directions and have your parking ticket ready at the car park entry. Without one, follow the variable message signs within Sydney Olympic Park to the best available casual parking. Carpool with your group and allow plenty of additional travel time.

Traffic may be heavier than usual on roads approaching the precinct, and the page names the M4, Parramatta Road, Homebush Bay Drive and Concord Road. Live conditions are on Live Traffic NSW. Sydney Olympic Park Authority may close some local roads to accommodate extra public transport and keep pedestrians safe; the page gives no list and points to the Sydney Olympic Park interactive map, which we have not seen.

Where do taxis and rideshare go?

The nearest taxi rank is on Herb Elliott Avenue near the Pullman Hotel. Roads may be closed within the precinct, so allow plenty of extra travel time before and after the event. When leaving, choose a pick-up location away from the immediate area around the stadium to avoid delays.

Is there accessible travel?

Transport for NSW says accessible trips are shown in the Trip Planner with the wheelchair icon. Select “accessible services only” in the options and the planner shows only trips with accessible train platforms, ferry wharves and buses.

Sources

• Transport for NSW — NBL: Sydney Double Header (read 3 November 2026)
• Live Traffic NSW

Featured image: Qudos Bank Arena, now Afterpay Arena, in 2019 (photo: Esports Kingdom / CC BY 2.0) (text added)

OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with Afterpay Arena, Sydney Olympic Park Authority, the NBL, the Sydney Kings, the Sydney Flames or Transport for NSW. Services, closures and prices can change; check the official pages above and the signs on the day.