Stadium height increased for first all weather cricket stadium in the world
The lead architects for the Macquarie Point stadium have addressed concerns that the new AFL stadium will have on cricket and more. Here’s when more designs will be released.
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Further concept designs for the Macquarie Point stadium will be released in the coming weeks after the long awaited “sneak peek” plans revealed on Sunday were met with mixed reactions.
The timber roofed stadium will be higher than expected in order to facilitate international cricket- and the transparent roof will increase the growing season for the pitch and remove the need for rain breaks.
“This will be the first all weather cricket stadium in the world,” Director of Cox Architecture, the lead architecture firm that was awarded the $37.9m contract to design the stadium, Alastair Richardson said.
He said cricket’s biggest concern was the height of the roof and they worked with Hawkeye — the optical ball tracking system — to assess the maximum height that anyone has hit a ball.
This pushed the roof height to 50m in order to have an internal clearance of 47 metres.
The plans were described as a “first taste” by Macquarie Point Development Corporation CEO Anne Beach who said the pictures were not just artistic impressions but reflected detailed design work that has occurred up to this point.
She said further designs- including renders that will show the impact of the stadium viewed from the Cenotaph and the waterfront- would be released later this month.
“One of the critical features of the design is keeping the edges of the stadium down as low as possible,” Ms Beach said.
“That’s really important for the impact it has and the experience we have in the space around it.
She said the height of the stadium hadn’t been resolved until the design process had been completed and the current roof design was at a “sweet spot” that meant the structure was self supporting and therefore cheaper.
“It also provides the most multi purpose functionality- we can get a 47 metre internal clearance and that allows us to meet all of crickets requirements,” she said.
Sport minister Nic Street said the project was going to be transformative, not just for Macquarie Point but for all of Hobart.
“You can see … the amount of work that’s gone into making sure this design is sympathetic not only to the surrounds that are here now but it is a nod to the past,” Mr Street said.
He said the project offers more than just the next steps into the AFL and AFLW for Tasmania but would be a “gamechanger” for the business events space in Tasmania.
The 1500 person convention area is a first for Tasmania according to Mr Street — and would open up the business events market for Tasmania.
Tourism Industry Council CEO Amy Hills said the activation of additional spaces including providing that space for 1500 seated guests would support the visitor economy in times of fierce competition.
“Investment in economic driving infrastructure of this kind, designed to activate the waterfront across the entire 12 months of the year, for events, hospitality and family gatherings will help support our visitor economy at a time when competition from other states and territories for the visitor dollar is fiercer than ever,” Ms Hills said.
AFL CEO Andrew Dillon said the renders released today were another “great step forward in the establishment of the Tassie Devils Football Club”.
“Having recently visited Hobart, there is real momentum regarding the club and the design of the stadium” he said.
Greens sport and recreation spokesman Vica Bayley said the announcement was “more PR than planning”.
He said the images showed the stadium was 25 per cent bigger and higher than the government’s own pledge.
“This is I think the first of Premier Rockliffs’ reassurances that are going to be proven wrong.”
Tasmanian Labor sport spokesman Luke Edmunds said they welcomed today’s concept designs and look forward to seeing more progress on this project.
“While it remains to be seen if Jeremy Rockliff can deliver this on time and on budget – if he does it will be good news for Tasmania’s economy and local jobs,” Mr Edmunds said.
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Originally published as Stadium height increased for first all weather cricket stadium in the world
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