Appetite for construction: concert, conference industries gunning for new Macquarie Point stadium

The proposed Mac Point stadium is already creating waves among major concert promoters, the TPC has been told, with the new venue forecast to return annual profits of up to $2 million.

James Avery, Stadiums Tasmania CEO. Picture: Linda Higginson

The proposed Macquarie Point stadium was already creating significant waves among major concert promoters and national conference bookers, the Tasmanian Planning Commission has been told, with the multipurpose venue forecast to return annual profits of up to $2 million from hosting 330 events each year.

Giving evidence at the TPC public hearings in Hobart on Thursday, Stadiums Tasmania chief executive James Avery, said his organisation was responsible for establishing ground occupancy agreements with users such the Devils AFL team, and delivering a pipeline of events into the arena.

Recently returned from a tour of venues in New Zealand, Mr Avery said Stadiums Tasmania had consulted major sporting codes, conference industry leaders, and live music promoters such as Live Nation and Frontier Touring to develop an optimal operating model for the Hobart waterfront site.

Proposed Macquarie Point stadium concept design. Picture: Supplied

Mr Avery said he was buoyed by the overwhelming positive feedback about the Mac Point stadium’s potential, and revealed that a recently completed economic impact assessment into the venue assessed its annual cash-flow profits at between $1 million and $2 million.

“We’re in ongoing discussions … to ensure that we’ve got a strong pipeline of content and events coming in, and our obligation, very clearly, is to maximize the number of events and content and activation year-round,” Mr Avery told the TPC panel.

“Sweat the asset, if you like.

“We think that the model represents a strong cash flow operating performance at a truly multipurpose facility that delivers year-round events across a wide range of sectors.

“And produces a robust and diverse events calendar that very clearly indicates that this is much more than a stadium for football games.”

Mr Avery said the Mac Point stadium would host 334 events every year, involving 37 days of live sport and entertainment that includes AFL and Test cricket; 40 major conferences in excess of 450 delegates; and 260 non-event day bookings such as corporate dinners, weddings, university graduation, and other private functions.

The stadium’s calendar also assumed one full stadium concert, and another smaller, “arena” concert each year, as well as community events similar to the MCG’s Pink Lady breast-cancer awareness football match.

Mr Avery said the interest shown in the lucrative business events market had been particularly encouraging for the stadium’s future economic prospects.

“Interstate data about the appetite to bring events down here is very important information, and we’re getting that from the agencies that book those events across the country,” he said.

“Conference organisers are always looking for somewhere new, somewhere different.

Renders showing the relocated Goods Shed at Macquarie Point, to make way for a multipurpose stadium. Picture: Cox Architecture

“So to have a uniquely designed venue on the waterfront in Hobart is a huge drawcard, as far as they are concerned.”

Earlier on Thursday, leaders from hospitality giant Federal Group told the Commission of their concerns that the bulk, size, and overall design of the stadium would diminish the maritime values of Sullivans Cove.

Federal’s executive general manager, corporate and regulatory affairs, Dr Daniel Hanna, said the consistent feedback from patrons staying at both the company’s MACq 01 and Henry Jones Art hotels was their appreciation of Hobart’s colonial heritage.

“The Hunter St is possibly the best example of colonial buildings preserved anywhere in Australia, and it’s certainly an incredibly important part of the guest experience,” Dr Hanna said.

“One of the images we use very consistently in our marketing is the view from standing from Mures looking over at Hunter Street, where you have a great example of 19th Century colonial and convict architecture.

“And there obviously there’s nothing in the background now.

“But clearly a 55m-high stadium of extreme bulk, size and scale will alter that vista forever.”

The TPC’s Project of State Significance hearings continue.

Originally published as Appetite for construction: concert, conference industries gunning for new Macquarie Point stadium