Jeff Kennett: Tassie needs a new AFL stadium, but not in Hobart

The AFL has a responsibility to grow the game but it shouldn’t come at the cost of a ridiculous financial burden to the people of Tasmania.

Let me express a personal point of view after spending a few days in Hobart and surrounding townships.

I have concluded that the building of the proposed roofed stadium, a condition of Tasmania being awarded their own AFL team, is not a done deal.

There is a lot of public opposition to the cost of the stadium, the majority cost being borne by Tasmania’s 550,000 population.

Having read the detail in the Club Funding and Development Agreement, even the Commonwealth’s contribution of $240m is “for urban renewal of the Macquarie Point site in the Hobart waterfront area including the build of a new stadium in that area”.

It does not say all the $240m offered by the Commonwealth will be spent on the stadium. Many Tasmanian locals want urban renewal that includes a mix of social and private housing.

With the roof, Tasmania will be up for approximately $750m, plus what of the Commonwealth contribution goes to urban renewal.

There are going to be substantial costs in remediating the Macquarie site after decades of toxic land use.

Then there is a range of planning processes to be favourably completed which will take time.

Sadly, the stadium will never even break even on its operating costs.

For the above reasons and more, there is simply no way the stadium will be built by the time a Tasmanian team is scheduled to enter the competition in 2027.

The AFL and the presidents have a responsibility to grow the game, but that should not be at the cost of a ridiculous financial burden to the people of Tasmania. Picture: Chris Kidd

AFL chief Gill McLachlan has recognised that by publicly stating that as long as the stadium is well under construction by 2027, the 19th license will be issued to a Tasmanian team.

So, interest on the monies borrowed, losses on the stadium each and every year, will be costs borne by the Tasmanian public for years, not the government, as the government has no money of its own.

It is all public money.

And that is before the Tasmanian government funds the new Tasmanian team.

So much has been made of the new stadiums in Perth and Adelaide, but the reality is both stadiums host two AFL teams and are used regularly during the AFL season.

As well, both stadiums have much larger populations on their doorsteps. Perth 2.1m and Adelaide 1.367m.

Tasmania has only 550,000 citizens spread throughout the island.

Population size is also a factor when deciding where other events and entertainment gigs are held.

Yes, the Tasmanian government, and many Tasmanians, want a Tassie team, and the AFL presidents supported that position.

But I have no doubt when the decision was made by the AFL Commission and the presidents, everyone was thinking of Tasmania’s contribution to the code over many decades and the desirability of a Tasmanian team, but not the financial cost we were imposing on the Tasmanian public with a roofed stadium that will hold only 23,000 patrons.

At this stage it is a stadium or no license.

There should be a Plan B.

The playing surface at the UTAS ground is already the best of all playing surfaces, partly because it is open to the elements and the care of a dedicated ground staff. Picture: Getty Images

If the stadium does not proceed, I would advocate the Tasmanian team be based in Launceston.

The playing surface at the UTAS ground is already the best of all playing surfaces, partly because it is open to the elements and the care of a dedicated Launceston Council ground staff.

The section of the ground that allows patrons to look over to the distant hills should be maintained.

It is a real point of difference to any other major stadium that hosts AFL football.

The stands and facilities could be rebuilt for one third of the cost of what is proposed in Hobart.

The stadium should not have a roof, and games played in the weather conditions of the day.

From the Tasmanian government’s point of view, supporters of teams coming to play against the Tasmanian team, could spread out across the top of Tassie or drive down the east or west coast, or down to the very real and many attractions of Hobart such as MONA, Salamanca Place, wine, food and whisky.

Stopping at any of the many historical towns along such a journey.

Visitors to Tasmania to attend AFL games, I contend, would more likely travel from Launceston south, than north from Hobart. A wonderful opportunity for Tourism Tasmania to develop some exciting tourism packages.

As readers will know, I have had experience leading the government here in Victoria and been president of the Hawthorn Football Club for 11 years.

My experience tells me I would hate the AFL to be imposing such conditions on Tasmanians to have their own AFL team, that their state debt becomes a stone around the necks of Tasmanians for decades.

The AFL and the presidents have a responsibility to grow the game, but that should not be at the cost of a ridiculous financial burden to the people of Tasmania.

Go Tassie!

Jeff Kennett is a former premier of Victoria

Originally published as Jeff Kennett: Tassie needs a new AFL stadium, but not in Hobart