Sydney commuters have been warned of traffic “mayhem” ahead of Lady Gaga’s concerts at Accor Stadium in Olympic Park on Friday and Saturday.
Transport for NSW hailed the return of Lady Gaga after 11 years for her “The MAYHEM Ball”, but warned motorists some 100,000 people would be flooding the area.
About 70,000 people are expected to attend Lady Gaga’s two shows this weekend, while another 30,000 were attending other shows nearby on Saturday.
On top of the Gaga frenzy, The Wiggles show at Qudos Bank Arena and the EPIK hard dance festival at Sydney Showground will make Saturday a particularly busy day.
TfNSW Coordinator-General Howard Collins said fans should use public transport, the cost of which was included in their concert tickets, to avoid traffic delays.
“Lady Gaga fans should leave the car behind and join all the other Little Monsters catching public transport to the concert. Plenty of extra services will be running to get you there and home again,” Mr Collins said.
“Express trains and major event buses will run frequently from mid-afternoon each day. Fans are encouraged to get there early and soak up the buzzing atmosphere in the precinct before each show.
“Travel on all modes of public transport is included in Lady Gaga concert tickets. Simply show your ticket to transport staff when boarding services.”
Express trains will run frequently from Central Station and key western stations to Olympic Park from mid-afternoon, and return services will run after the show until late.
Eventgoers are urged to use metro services to Central to connect with express trains to Olympic Park. Additional metro services will be operating every 7 minutes from 10am to 9pm.
“If you need to drive, it is essential that you pre-book parking online to secure a spot as there is limited availability on Friday night,” Mr Collins said.
“On Saturday, if you don’t have pre-booked parking don’t drive to Olympic Park, catch public transport instead.”
The Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF) revealed on Friday 36 per cent of Australians cross state borders each year for concerts and sport matches.
More than half of them – 51 per cent – fell into the 25-34-year-old age bracket.
TTF CEO Margy Osmond said events remain a powerful drawcard for travellers, especially global stars like Lady Gaga, who has already performed in Melbourne and Brisbane.
“Artists like Lady Gaga don’t just sell tickets, they spark movement. Their performances inspire fans to travel, to connect, and to be part of an unforgettable shared experience,” Ms Osmond said.
