Afterpay Announces Landmark Naming Rights Partnership with Australia’s Most Iconic Indoor Arena

DISTRIBUTED-WORK-MODEL/SYDNEY, May 20, 2026 – Afterpay, the leading buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) platform, today announced a naming rights partnership that will transform the venue currently known as Qudos Bank Arena into Afterpay Arena – recently awarded the number five arena in the world and Australia’s most iconic live entertainment destination.

The partnership, set to officially launch in the coming months with an initial five-year deal, will see the iconic Sydney Olympic Park venue become the first major entertainment destination in Australia to offer complete payment flexibility across the entire customer experience – from initial ticket purchase through to meal and merchandise transactions inside the venue.

New research commissioned by Afterpay reveals that access remains the defining challenge for Australia’s live entertainment industry: 94% of cost-affected event-goers have missed events due to upfront payment barriers. The opportunity is clear – 58% of consumers say they would be more likely to attend with flexible payment options available, and 74% would spend more at venues that offer payment choice.

The partnership leverages Block’s complete payment ecosystem, bringing together Afterpay’s flexible payment solution for ticket purchases and Square’s integrated payments and POS platform across in-venue transactions. Fans can split ticket purchases across four interest-free instalments, while Square powers faster food, beverage, and merchandise transactions throughout the venue – minimising time away from the live experience and keeping fans where they came to be.

“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 Nick Molnar, Co-founder and CEO of Afterpay.

“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,” said Molnar.

Since opening with Luciano Pavarotti in 1999, the Arena has become a landmark venue for live entertainment in Sydney, hosting the world’s leading artists from Billie Eilish to Rüfüs Du Sol to TWICE, major sporting events, comedy, family entertainment and cultural experiences. The Arena’s  15 millionth ticket was sold during Linkin Park’s Tour 2026 World Tour, adding to the recognition by Billboard magazine as a Top 5 Live Music Venue globally in 2025.  

“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 AM, President & Chief Executive, Legends Global (Asia Pacific & Middle East). 

“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,” he added.  

The physical transformation of the venue – including new external signage, interior refreshes, and fully integrated Afterpay and Square touchpoints throughout – is currently underway, with further milestones to be announced in the coming months. During this period, the venue will continue to be known as Qudos Bank Arena and will host its full calendar of world-class entertainment throughout the transition.

ENDS

Partnership at a Glance

• Five-year naming rights partnership through to 2031
• 1.1 million annual attendees – named in the Top-5 Live Music Venues in the World for 2025 by Billboard magazine
• End-to-end integration: Afterpay Pay in Four for tickets + Square’s integrated payments and POS platform
•  for all in-venue transactions
• 94% of cost-affected event-goers have missed events due to upfront payment barriers
• 58% of consumers are more likely to attend events with flexible payment options available
• 74% would spend more at venues that offer payment choice

About Block, Inc.

Block, Inc. (NYSE: SQ; ASX: SQ2) is a global technology company with a focus on financial services. Block’s portfolio of brands includes Square, Afterpay, Cash App, and TIDAL. For more information, visit block.xyz.

About Afterpay

Afterpay is a global leader in flexible payment solutions, empowering millions of customers to access the products and experiences they love through four interest-free instalments. Afterpay is part of Block, Inc. (NYSE: SQ; ASX: SQ2). For more information, visit afterpay.com.

About Square 

Square helps businesses turn transactions into connections and businesses into neighbourhood favourites. In 2009, Square started with a simple invention – the first mobile card reader, which changed how the entire financial system thinks about small businesses. Square has since grown into a global business platform helping millions of sellers of all sizes participate and thrive in their communities. Whether independently run or a global chain, Square understands that sellers succeed when they have the freedom to focus on the experiences that keep customers coming back. From point of sale and payments to online commerce, staff management, cash flow tools, and more, Square brings together the tools sellers need to run and grow on one intelligent platform. For more information, visit squareup.com.

About The Arena

The currently named Qudos Bank Arena is Australasia’s number one venue for live entertainment and the region’s largest indoor arena. Leased by TEG and operated by Legends Global, the world-class venue works alongside its partners to bring leading live entertainment experiences to Sydney, spanning concerts, sports events, comedy and family entertainment. In 2025, the Arena was named among Billboard magazine’s Top 5 Live Music Venues in the World, reflecting its reputation as one of the world’s leading live entertainment destinations. https://qudosbankarena.com.au [linkprotect.cudasvc.com]  

Methodology 

The findings are based on a comprehensive survey conducted by Qualtrics, highlighting the evolving entertainment access behaviours and preferences of Australian consumers. Consumer findings were based on a survey conducted of 902 Australian adults in February 2026. The core sample data were nationally representative across age, gender, and state.