A-League still keen on Tasmanian presence but rectangular venue is must

If the Federal government is going to help fund a new stadium in Hobart, A-League officials want it to be a convertible venue.

FIRST LOOK: New designs of what Hobart's new AFL stadium at Macquarie Point could look like. Images supplied by AFL

A-League boss Danny Townsend has called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to ensure a proposed new government-funded stadium in Tasmania can be converted from a circular arena to a rectangular field so it caters for more than just Aussie rules and cricket.

Albanese is reportedly set to announce Federal government funding of $240m for a 23,000-seat stadium in Hobart which will pave the way for an AFL expansion club in Tasmania by 2027.

However, Tasmania is also interested in becoming home to an A-League club.
The A-League will expand to 14 teams in the 2024-25 season with the inclusion of teams from Canberra and Auckland.

The following season, two more sides are set to be added to the competition. One is expected to be from Queensland, with Tasmania in contention for the other spot.

A-League boss Danny Townsend wants a new stadium in Tasmania to cater for more than just Aussie rules and cricket. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

But a rectangular venue is crucial to the Apple Isle’s hopes of becoming part of the A-League.

“We need to be convinced that stadium is going to be able to operate effectively as a rectangle,” Australian Professional Leagues chief executive officer Danny Townsend said.

“It’d be disappointing if the Albanese government is funding a stadium that doesn’t cater for rectangular sports. That wouldn’t be a great outcome.

“We’re not interested in playing in a round venue.

“If it’s a modulable stadium, which we hear there may be a chance for that, then that’s fantastic.

“If it’s not modulable, then it’s a cricket and AFL ground and that’s it.”

FIRST LOOK: New designs of what Hobart's new AFL stadium at Macquarie Point could look like. Images supplied by AFL

Townsend said he had been talking with Football Tasmania and the Tasmanian government for a “long time” now.

“It’s been about what we would want to see in order to consider a Tasmanian team in the A-League. Certainly stadiums infrastructure is important – we’ve made that clear,” he said.

Townsend was confident that if an AFL team was to play out of Tasmania, it would not lead to football losing young players to the rival code.

“Football’s still very strong down there from a participation standpoint, and from a professional sport perspective, given that we don’t crossover that much in terms of our seasons … we think that football can really get a stronghold,” he said.

Originally published as A-League still keen on Tasmanian presence but rectangular venue is must