Macquarie Point Stadium proponents on verge of financing deal

Proponents of Macquarie Point Stadium 2.0 will make an “exciting funding announcement” in the next few days to intensify the two-horse race for a 23,0000-seat multipurpose venue at Mac Point.

Concept drawings of a Macquarie Point Stadium which includes an outer shell of apartments, proposed by the Stadia Precinct Consortia. Picture: SolutionsWon

Proponents of Macquarie Point Stadium 2.0 will make an “exciting funding announcement” in the next few days to intensify the two-horse race for a 23,000-seat multipurpose venue at Mac Point.

Despite sports minister Nic Street’s “captain’s call” on ruling out the alternative project, Mac2 is back in the game after Labor’s stunning backflip to support a multipurpose venue in Hobart as well as announcing its support for the commercially-driven waterside Mac2 project.

Stadia Consortia managing director Dean Coleman, who has driven an innovative proposal for a stadium as part of a $2.3bn Macquarie Point urban redevelopment, welcomed Labor’s policy pivot.

“We welcome their support for our project and we are working hard to get all of our steps in place,” Coleman said.

“We have been consulting closely with major investors and we will hopefully have an exciting funding announcement this week.”

Concept drawings of a Macquarie Point Stadium which includes an outer shell of apartments, proposed by the Stadia Precinct Consortia. Picture: SolutionsWon

Mac2 stadium is a roofed, 23,000-seat venue, expandable to 30,000 when demand outstrips seating availability.

The innovative design protrudes about 200m into the Derwent on its eastern side, and digs into the Cenotaph hillside on its western side.

The outer “skin” includes 450 apartments, a private hospital, hotel and convention centre, restaurants, supermarket, retail, RSL and Tasmanian Football Museum spaces.

“We are proposing a project that delivers significant cultural and community benefits beyond the economic and sporting aspirations of this once-in-a-lifetime project,” Mr Coleman said.

“The consortia’s vision is for a community precinct that all Tasmanians can be proud of, and which will stimulate Hobart’s cultural and tourism sectors as Wrest Point did in the 1970s and Mona has done in the past 10 years.

“Our proposal doesn’t take up the whole site allowing room for other projects such as the Aboriginal Truth and Reconciliation Park.”

Hobart Stadium interior view with crowd. Proposed Macquarie Point stadium by SolutionsWon Group Picture: SolutionsWon Group

Labor leader Dean Winter, who replaced Rebecca White after the recent state election, said his party would now support the building of a stadium to promote employment opportunities.

“A stadium will mean thousands of jobs in construction, including hundreds of apprenticeships,” Mr Winter said.

“That’s why Labor will be backing a new stadium.”

With the state government putting the pieces in place for a Mac1 stadium, Mr Street is not on-board with a Mac2 alternative, following his statement last month.

“The project includes a full roofed stadium as per the AFL agreement. Funding has been allocated and the formal planning process is under way,” he said.

“Given its commitment to deliver the Macquarie Point Urban Renewal Project, the Tasmanian Government is not contemplating involvement in any alternate proposals.”

Originally published as Macquarie Point Stadium proponents on verge of financing deal