Afterpay Takes Over Naming Rights for Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena

One of Australia’s biggest live entertainment venues is preparing for a major transformation, with a new naming rights deal for Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena as part of a new five-year partnership.

In a partnership announced today, Afterpay will take over naming rights for the venue, meaning it will become Afterpay Arena in the coming months as part of an initial five-year agreement. 

The deal marks the first time a major Australian entertainment venue will offer integrated payment flexibility across the entire customer experience, from ticket purchases through to in-venue transactions. The partnership combines Afterpay’s buy-now-pay-later platform with Square payment technology, allowing concertgoers to split ticket costs into four interest-free instalments while also streamlining food, beverage and merchandise purchases inside the venue.

“Live experiences are one of the more meaningful ways people choose to spend their time. We wanted to be the brand that makes sure nothing gets in the way of that,” said Afterpay's co-founder and CEO Nick Molnar.

"What we've built here is genuinely end-to-end - the flexibility starts when you buy your ticket and carries through to fans' meal and a piece of merch on the night. Square's technology makes every transaction as fast as possible, because every second you're standing in line for merch is a second you're not in the moment you came for."

The announcement comes as live entertainment costs continue to climb in Australia. According to new research commissioned by Afterpay, 94% of Australians impacted by cost-of-living pressures have skipped events because of upfront ticket expenses, while 58% said flexible payment options would make them more likely to attend live events.

Since opening in 1999 with a performance by Luciano Pavarotti, the 21,000-capacity venue has become one of Australia’s premier live entertainment destinations, hosting artists including Billie Eilish, RÜFÜS DU SOL and TWICE, alongside major sporting events, comedy tours and family entertainment productions.

The venue recently ranked as the fifth-highest grossing arena globally in Billboard’s 2025 venue rankings, while its 15 millionth ticket sale was recorded during Linkin Park’s 2026 world tour.

“We are obsessed with enhancing the guest experience at every interaction, and we know Afterpay's popularity with Australian audiences means they now have another option to secure tickets,” said Harvey Lister, president and CEO of Legends Global Asia Pacific & Middle East, the venue's operator. 

“More than 1.1 million people walk through this Arena’s doors every year, and this partnership represents a significant evolution in how Australians access live entertainment. Afterpay's five-year commitment is a genuine investment in Australian culture and in every single one of those fans.”

A full physical transformation of the venue is already underway, including new exterior signage, refreshed interiors and integrated Afterpay and Square branding throughout the arena.

Until the transition is completed, the venue will continue operating as Qudos Bank Arena while maintaining its existing events calendar.