Christmas and New Year is heaven for sports lovers and family experiences.
It’s that rare moment when everyone is on holidays with not much else to do but to head down and barrack for your local team. It’s a great opportunity for families to try something new and enjoy some old school, non-tech entertainment, with more families now banning phones while at the game.
Over the Christmas and New Year holidays, there are three national soccer league games, Big Bash League Cricket, the Australian National Road Cycling Championships and United Cup tennis. The silky skills of the Wildcats will not be on show until the first local game of the year on January 17th, and the Western Force season does not start until February 5th.
Tickets and season passes also make great Christmas gifts.
Perth Glory
HBF Park: Sat Dec 28; Sun Dec 29; Wed Jan 4
Perth Glory is playing three matches at HBF Stadium in East Perth over the Christmas break.
This is part of the national A-League competition with teams representing States across Australia and New Zealand.
Perth Glory has struggled to find consistent form early in the season but with a star-studded line-up including three Socceroos, a home win is sure to be around the corner!
Team Captain and Socceroo Adam Taggart is the goal scorer to watch. The Perth local returned to Glory last season and was the leading goal scorer for the league. Former Socceroo Josh Risdon is looking to make an impact in defence after returning from injury early in the season.
Kid’s entertainment before the game and a half-time kid’s match has made the Glory popular with families, and it’s also fun to see the antics of the dedicated, shirts-off supporters displaying English soccer style antics at the ‘Shed’ at the North corner of the ground.
Games coming up at HBF Park include:
- Friday Dec 27 (7:45pm): Perth Glory v Macarthur FC
- Friday Jan 3 (6:45pm): Perth Glory v Western United FC
- Saturday Jan 11 (6:45pm): Perth Glory v Auckland FC
- Tuesday Jan 14 (6:45pm): Perth Glory v Western Sydney Wanderers
- Saturday Feb 1 (6:45pm): Perth Glory v Melbourne Victory
- Friday Feb 7 (6:45pm): Perth Glory vs Central Coast Mariners
- Saturday Feb 22 (6:45pm): Perth Glory vs Sydney FC
- Saturday Mar 22 (6:45pm): Perth Glory vs Adelaide United
- Friday Mar 28 (6:45pm): Perth Glory vs Auckland FC
- Saturday Apr 12 (6:45pm): Perth Glory vs Macarthur FC
TICKETS
United Cup Tennis
RAC Arena: Sat Dec 27 – Wed Jan 1
This year, the United Cup is being played in Perth and Sydney, giving Perth locals the chance to enjoy five days of extraordinary tennis, including the top seeds from USA led by 2023 US Open champion and world No.3 Coco Gauff and world No.6 and US Open finalist Taylor Fritz, and Team Greece, led by popular duo Stefanos Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari, both former world No.3s.
The United Cup is a mixed double competition with a maximum of one team allowed from each country, each competing for $15 million in prize money and 500 PIF ATP and WTA rankings points. In total, nine of 18 countries are playing their qualifying rounds and quarter finals in Perth, including USA, Greece, China, Germany, Canada, Brazil, Spain, Croatia and Kazakhstan. The finals are being played in Sydney.
The qualifying rounds run from Friday Dec 27 to Tuesday Dec 31 and the quarter finals are on New Years Day. Regular tickets start at $43 and Baseline Club hospitality packages start from $290.
Perth Cup New Year’s Day at Ascot
Ascot Raceway: Wed Jan 1
If you are looking for a fun way to celebrate Day 1 of the New Year, then look no further than the legendary Perth Cup Day at Ascot Raceway.
General Admission includes a huge day of racing, featuring the Group 2 TABtouch-Perth Cup, Group 3 La Trice Classic and Listed Summer Scorcher.
The real attraction is the fashion and entertainment and, after the last race, everyone has the chance to party on into the evening with a live band on the track. For the ultimate experience, you need to consider an all-inclusive food & drink hospitality package with prices ranging from $198 to $350.
Best on ground is Champagne Oasis. Hosted upstairs on the top floor of the premium marquee with a spectacular view of the racecourse, tickets include exclusive access to Sky Villa, a fully inclusive, premium food and beverage package and live acoustic entertainment and more.
Other packages include the Swan Draught Beer Garden, located trackside with plenty of shade and all-day food package, exclusive DJ entertainment, games and giveaways. In The Sanctuary, you have exclusive access to the air-conditioned Leger Lawn Marquee with private bar, located directly opposite the racetrack.
Enclosure on the Deck has just sold out, but there are still tickets available for fine dining at Flying Colours Restaurant. Located on the Member Floor on the second level of The Grandstand, the restaurant offers a magnificent view of the racecourse and includes a 5 course lunch and drinks package. Or you can indulge in 4-course buffet lunch with drinks included at the Upper Terrace or Lower Level of The Terrace Restaurant.
If new year’s day is too long to wait, Gold Rush Day is the 5th day of the Ascot Racing Carnival is on this Saturday, Dec 14, followed by Family Christmas Day next Saturday, Dec 21, with tickets from just $12.
Perth Scorchers
Optus Stadium: Thu Dec 26; Fri Jan 3; Tue Jan 7; Sat Jan 18
The Perth Scorchers are playing four matches over the Christmas break and in January, including a boxing day game at Optus Stadium.
These games are part of the Big Bash League, a reimagined T20 cricket competition known for its fast-paced competition and big-hitting sixes. This is cricket at its most exciting, with music, mascots and post-game fireworks, also making it a fun day out for families.
Since the league’s introduction in 2011, The Scorchers have won an impressive five premiership titles in 13 years and are looking to add a sixth win this season. This year’s international recruits include Matthew Hurst and Keaton Jennings along with world renowned batting talent Finn Allen.
General admission tickets start at $44 with junior tickets from $18. Additional discounts are available for groups families or groups of 10+. For a premium experience, hospitality packages are available from $365pp. Upcoming games include:
- Thursday Dec 26 (6:15pm): Scorchers v Brisbane Heat
- Friday Jan 3 (6:15pm): Scorchers v Sydney Thunder
- Tuesday Jan 7 (4:15pm): Scorchers v Melbourne Renegades
- Saturday Jan 18 (5:15pm): Scorchers v Adelaide Strikers
TICKETS
Auscycling Road Nationals
Perth CBD: Wed Jan 8 – Sun 12 Jan
In January, Perth is hosting the Australian Road Cycling National Championships for the first time in twenty years. Time trials, criterium and road race events take place over four days on tracks in and around Perth CBD. It’s a free event and a great opportunity to see world class cycling talent in action.
Western Australia’s cycling pedigree will be on show as Sam Welsford and Jai Hindley race for the coveted green and gold national title jersey. Born and raised in Subiaco, Welsford has claimed 3 medals including gold at the recent 2024 Olympics and is in contention for a national title in the Criterium race. Hindley will also make his return to Perth in the elite men’s road race after winning the prestigious Giro d’Italia in 2022.
Time trial races will open the program on Jan 8 as riders go head-to-head against the clock in a circuit that loops around Bold Park Reserve and The City of Nedlands. On day two and three, riders will take to the streets of Northbridge for the criterium race. The 1.2km closed circuit race will have six corners and include obstacles and narrow streets designed to challenge rider’s technical skills. The program is completed with a 16.2km road race which starts and finishes in Kings Park.
If spectating isn’t your style, the Steady Rack Grand Fondo race is open to all riders wanting to experience an elite cycling course. Start time is 6:30am on January 12 before the elite men’s race.
- Wed Jan 8 -Thu Jan 9 (from 9:30am): Time trial
- Fri Jan 10 (from 10:30am): Criterium:
- Sat Jan 11-Sun Jan 12 (from 6:30am): Road Race
- Sat Jan 12 (6:30am): Steady Rack Grand Fondo (open to public)
FULL SCHEDULE
Perth Wildcats
RAC Arena: Fri Jan 17
The Perth wildcats don’t have any local games over the Christmas and New Year break and play their first home game at RAC Arena on January 17th, where they face off against the Adelaide 36ers in the annual open air game.
The 10-time championship winning team currently sits in the middle of the table as they rebuild under new ownership. Head coach John Rillie’s is leading The Wildcats for a third season and is focused on developing and recruiting youth talent.
Last season Wildcat’s recruit and nextstar academy player Alex Sarr made history as the second ranked NBA draft pick. This year’s nextstar program recruit Izan Almansa is looking to follow in his footsteps after impressive youth results, including the title of MVP at the 2022 U/17 world cup. Long-time fan favourite and reigning league MVP Bryce Cotton has contined his dominance this season alongside Kristian Dolittle, who in his second season with The Wildcats is in the running for defensive player of the year.
Perth Wildcats games bring American style antics to Australia as RAC Arena turns into “The Jungle”. Expect cheerleaders, t-shirt guns, lots of crowd participation and lots of noise.
There are four home games in January and final game of the season is on February 7.
- Friday Jan 17 (5:30pm): Perth Wildcats v Adelaide 36ers
- Wednesday Jan 22 (6:30pm): Perth Wildcats v Melbourne United
- Saturday Jan 25 (5:00pm): Perth Wildcats v Cairns Taipans
- Friday Jan 31 (6:30pm): Perth Wildcats v South Eastern Melbourne Phoenix
- Friday Feb 7 (6:30pm): Perth Wildcats v Adelaide 36ers
Western Force
HBF Park: Sat Feb 15
The Western Force rugby team is playing its first home game as part of the Super Rugby 2025 season on Saturday February 15th against Moana Pasifika at HBF Park in East Perth.
This year, the Western Force celebrates their twenty year milestone. It’s been a tough couple of years after the team was controversially removed from the Super League in 2017 and then fought back and returned in 2022 with the backing of billionaire Andrew Forrest.
In 2025, the Force is looking to strengthen its competitive depth with the introduction of four new Wallaby recruits and two internationally capped players Nic Dolly and Matt Procter. The 2025 squad also includes four WA locals.
The Super Rugby 2025 season runs from February 15 to May 24 with seven Western Force home games all being played at HBF Park.
- Saturday Feb 5 (4:35pm): Western Force v Moana Pasifika
- Saturday Mar 1 (4:35pm): Western Force vs Queensland Reds
- Sunday Mar 23 (2:05pm): Western Force vs Fijian Drua
- Saturday Apr 5 (4:35pm): Western Force vs Highlanders
- Saturday Apr 19 (5:35pm): Western Force vs Hurricanes
- Saturday May 10 (5:35pm): Western Force vs ACT Brumbies
- Saturday May 24 (5:35pm): Western Force vs NSW Waratah
2025 season memberships are available from $170
TICKETS
