Perth is bracing for a historic economic boost as the city hosts its first-ever Ashes Test Series opener this week, with restaurants, bars and hospitality venues preparing for a surge in trade that will ripple through the local economy.
Starting today at Optus Stadium, the five-day contest between Australia and England is expected to inject more than $50 million into the WA economy, according to NAB analysis, as tens of thousands of cricket fans pack the stadium and flood into the city’s dining and drinking establishments.
NAB Executive Business Metro & Specialised Julie Rynski said the series opener would deliver a welcome pre-Christmas lift for Perth’s hospitality sector.
“Events like the Ashes bring people together – and that’s great news for local businesses,” Rynski said. “With record ticket sales and sold-out days, we’re expecting a significant uplift in spending across Perth’s hospitality, retail and tourism sectors over the next week or so.”
The atmosphere is electric
For operators like Australian Venue Co’s The Royal in Perth, the Ashes represents a golden opportunity to capitalise on the cricket-fueled atmosphere. WA State Manager Joe Baily said the venue has completely adjusted its operations to accommodate the expected influx.
“Fans are already arriving from the UK, and the atmosphere in Perth is electric,” Baily said. “We’ve altered our trading hours so we can open for breakfast and are putting on live entertainment every night. Fans come and go throughout the day, so we want to make sure there’s something special whenever they drop in.”
The extended visitor stays between Tests could prove particularly lucrative for Perth hospitality businesses. “With a gap between Tests this year, we expect many visitors will stay in Perth longer to soak up the atmosphere and city. That’s great news for hospitality venues like ours,” Baily added.
Sustained uplift through the summer
Hotel occupancy rates in Perth have already climbed above 80%, with the visitor surge expected to keep restaurants and bars busy well beyond match days. The spending boost comes at a crucial time, helping businesses give staff extra shifts and build momentum heading into the new year.
The Perth Test kicks off a five-match series that will travel to Brisbane (Dec 4–8), Adelaide (Dec 17–21), Melbourne (Dec 26–30), and Sydney (Jan 4–8), with each host city preparing for similar hospitality windfalls.
Adelaide has already seen hotel bookings spike to 86% occupancy, while Melbourne’s Boxing Day Test is expected to draw more than 90,000 fans on day one alone.
The Ashes joins a blockbuster Australian summer sports calendar – including the Australian Open and Big Bash League – that is expected to inject billions into the national economy and create sustained opportunities for the restaurant and hospitality sector through the peak summer season.
