Hawks and Roos to return in 2022, Premier announces
The Hawks and Roos contracts became the centre piece of a big game of chess between Tasmania and the AFL, but now the clubs will return next season after a new one-year deal was announced.
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AFL football will return to Tasmania in 2022 with Hawthorn and North Melbourne officially locking in deals for next season.
It will be a continuation of the existing contracts that will see the Hawks play four roster games and a pre-season game in Launceston and the Roos play four roster games in Hobart, Premier Peter Gutwein announced to parliament this morning.
The deals are believed to be worth about $8 million combined but Mr Gutwein said the economic return was valued at about $40 million.
“This is great news for Tasmanian AFL fans and also for our broader economy, with previous economic analysis confirming AFL games provide a significant economic return to the State of around 5:1,” Mr Gutwein said.
“In particular, the new agreements will be warmly welcomed by local hospitality venues and accommodation providers who will once again benefit from the increased trade as people travel and get out and about before and after the games.”
After months of tense negotiations between the Tasmanian Government and the AFL over a timeline for the state’s entry into the big league.
Mr Gutwein refused to budge on the Hawks and Roos deals until a timeline was set for a decision on a Tasmanian AFL team.
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan initially did not set a timeline following the positive release of the league’s own Carter report that showed a Tasmanian team would be viable but eventually buckled under pressure from the state government and comes after Tasmania hosted 14 games during this Covid raged season, included the first two finals ever held in the state.
“And importantly, the one-year agreements will ensure Tasmanians don’t miss out on seeing AFL in the State next year while we await the final decision on a Tasmanian AFL licence,” he said.
Originally published as Hawks and Roos to return in 2022, Premier announces
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