Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese believes that even if Tasmania is granted a 19th AFL team licence, that not all home games would be played at the proposed new $750 million stadium.
The Tassie stadium debate has been a controversial sticking point from the AFL for the potential inclusion of a new team from 2027 onwards.
But even if the new stadium at Hobart’s Macquarie Point is complete by 2029 as planned, Albanese revealed he expects home games to be played in both the north and south of Tasmania.
“Part of the business case as well has to look at the development of the Launceston ground as well – not quite sure what it’s called these days given stadiums change their names according to sponsors. But you would need, I think, to make sure games are played in the north as well as the south,” he said on SEN.
“I’m not a Tasmanian but I’ve been to Tasmania enough times to know that’s an issue to rival Melbourne-Sydney.”
The Tasmanian government has requested $240m in federal funding for the new multipurpose, 23,000-seat, roofed-stadium build with the new AFL team to spend their first two seasons at existing stadiums Bellerive Oval and York Park.
Speaking to Gerard Whateley on SEN, Albanese confirmed he had the proposal in front of him, but couldn’t commit to the project as “an AFL stadium”.
“We do (have the proposal) and that’s being looked at by the infrastructure department,” he said.
“It needs to be seen not as just an AFL stadium; it needs to be seen as an urban redevelopment project there at Macquarie Point.
“Funny how things if you’re round a while, things sometimes come back. We funded some money, $50 million back in 2012 for the regeneration of the Macquarie Point site.
“For people who aren’t from Hobart or Tasmania, it’s a bit like Barangaroo. It’s right on the waterfront there.
“It needs revitalisation.
“There’s a lot of cleaning up at the site needed. But for commercial, tourism and if that adds something to it, not just for sporting events, but for artists to perform there then really that’s what might add the value there.”
Albanese said the AFL needed to “do their bit” for the stadium plans, as the federal government would also have to juggle funds for an upgrade at UTAS Stadium if the 19th licence bid is successful.
As it stands, the Tasmanian state government would commit $375m, the AFL inject $15m and private investors would chip in $85m to go with the planned federal funding of $240m.
“We’re having a constructive look at it. But I’ve had really constructive discussions with Jeremy Rockliff, the Tassie Premier down there. Of course, it would be a very good thing if Tasmania had an AFL team.
“It’s a national competition, if you were going back a bit you might have reconsidered some of the decisions that have been made given Tasmania is an AFL state of course.
“We are examining the case that’s been put to us.”
Even if given the green light for federal funds, Albanese confirmed there would be a delay to construction.
“We’re not talking about something that would commence straight away,” he revealed.
The new stadium proposal has optimistically claimed there would be 44 events to be held at the venue each year, should approval be granted.
