Hobart stadium will be a win for all in Tasmania: David Koch

The AFL’s highest profile president says while Bellerive’s arena is “quaint”, if Tassie want to attract world-class footy, a new city stadium needs to be built. HIS TAKE >

David Koch, chairman of AFL football team Port Adelaide.

The AFL’s highest profile president has spoken out, saying Tasmania must invest in a multipurpose stadium in Hobart and that it would be a boon for the capital and the state.

Port Adelaide president and Channel 7 Sunrise host David Koch has seen first hand how a stadium in Adelaide’s CBD saved his club, reinvigorated Adelaide’s city centre and led to a tourism boom for South Australia.

Koch’s comments come as state Labor leader Rebecca White ramps up her campaign against the planned $750m stadium, now a must if the AFL is to grant Tasmania the 19th AFL licence.

Ms White has called on the state government to hold a referendum on the stadium, a move most Mercury readers are against in an online poll.

But Koch urged detractors of a stadium at Macquarie Point to look at the bigger picture and Tasmania’s future.

He cites the Adelaide Oval redevelopment as an example of what can be achieved.

When that development was first mooted it led to uproar from certain factions of the community.

The new Adelaide Oval redevelopment has been a boon for that city.

The reasons, like Hobart, were similar, with protesters saying it was a waste of money and unnecessary because they already had a stadium.

Port Adelaide used to play at suburban Football Park.

Koch said outrage against the plan was so strong people marched in the street to try and stop construction, but sentiment shifted radically once the Adelaide Oval revamp was completed.

“Now everyone acknowledges it is one of the best pieces of government infrastructure in decades,” Koch said.

“No one complains, they love it.

“We used to play at this community ground … which was in the wrong spot and just an average stadium, and we suffered as a club in terms of attendance and membership because no one liked to go there.”

Since the redevelopment, the Power has seen an “enormous increase in game attendance”.

The stadium has also led to a dining and entertainment precinct which spans from the CBD towards Adelaide Oval.

The Power run out during the 2022 S7 AFLW Round 06 match between the Adelaide Crows and the Port Adelaide Power at Adelaide Oval.

“Six, seven years ago Adelaide didn’t have a five-star hotel,” Koch said.

“Now it’s got four because of tourism (generated by the stadium).”

He said visiting teams coming to Adelaide now bring a bunch of supporters because AFL clubs target the inter-state game. Many of those people stay on for the weekend or an extended holiday.

“It has not only been an enormous benefit locally because it is an easy walk to the shops, restaurants and hotel, it has had a ripple effect with interstate visitors going to the Barossa, McLaren Vale, and staying longer,” Koch said.

Port Adelaide president David Koch.

“Tourism South Australia has all the stats to back that up. That’s the power of the stadium.”

When pressed about Hobart’s current stadium, Blundstone Arena, and why he thought it wasn’t up to AFL standards, Koch chose his words carefully.

“Look, Bellerive is good, and I don’t want to be disrespectful at all ... it’s a great, quaint stadium, but AFL is the premier sport in the country,” he said.

“We get the biggest attendance everywhere ­- not even Test match cricket can compete with AFL crowds - and I believe that is because of the stadium experience.

“There is an expectation with visiting fans, players and clubs of a higher standard.

“It’s like going to gold class at the movies,” he explained.

Aerial view of Adelaide Oval.

“Bellerive is like going to a really good movie theatre, but you go to gold class and that is something special, and we think going to the AFL should be special, supporting your team should be special.

“It’s about respecting your fans enough to give them the best show in sport, in facilities that are world-class.”

Once the stadium plan is locked away, Koch can see no reason why Tasmanian wouldn’t get the AFL licence — a dream that has been 30 years in the making.

“We are absolutely in favour of it, our board is right on-board, absolutely on-board, if there is a world-class stadium,” Koch said.

“It’s an important piece of the puzzle.”

Koch said every person he had spoken to didn’t want the Tasmanian team to be just another team in the AFL. They wanted it to thrive, he said, to be a powerhouse.

“We just don’t want to carry a club, we want to see it succeed, and all the experience we have had in building a successful, sustainable club is based around the stadium,” he said.

“We want you there but it comes with conditions that you have facilities that reflect the premier sport and the prestige of Tasmania having a club in the AFL.”

Artists impression of the new AFL Hobart stadium.

Originally published as Hobart stadium will be a win for all in Tasmania: David Koch