Sydney's major live music arena officially reopened on July 23 under a new name. The venue, formerly known as Qudos Bank Arena, is now called Afterpay Arena following the completion of a physical transformation and the formal launch of a five-year naming rights partnership first announced in May.
According to Billboard, the launch ceremony was held inside the arena bowl and was attended by Afterpay co-founder Anthony Eisen, Afterpay VP APAC Mike Ryan, Legends Global COO for Asia Pacific and Middle East Peter Loxton, and Federal Shadow Assistant Minister for the Digital Economy Simon Kennedy.
The partnership runs through 2031 and positions the venue as the first major entertainment destination in Australia to offer payment flexibility across the full fan experience. Ticket purchases can now be split into four interest-free instalments through Afterpay Pay in 4. Inside the venue, attendees can use tap-to-pay for food, beverages, and merchandise through 150 Square Registers and 65 Square Handheld devices, described as the first full Square commerce integration at a venue of this scale in Australia.
Physical changes to the venue include a foyer redesign, two new hospitality spaces, updated wayfinding throughout the building, and what the companies describe as one of the world's largest transparent holographic LED installations.
"Afterpay now has a permanent home in the place where fans come for the moments that matter most to them," Eisen said. "We've built everything here around keeping fans in the moment — from the way they buy their ticket to the last song of the night."
Loxton described the deal as reaching beyond branding. "This partnership isn't just a name on a building," he said. "That's exactly the kind of engaged partner we want beside us for the next five years."
The arena draws approximately 1.1 million attendees annually and was named to Billboard's Top 5 Live Music Venues in 2025. It is operated by Ticketek Entertainment Group and managed by Legends Global.
Afterpay-commissioned research found that 94% of cost-affected event-goers have missed live events due to upfront payment barriers, while 74% said they would spend more at venues that offer payment flexibility.
Among the first acts scheduled to perform at the renamed venue are Tame Impala, J. Cole, Khalid, Laufey, Robyn, Olivia Dean, Zara Larsson, and Hilary Duff.
