Why Mac Point Stadium is good for winter, young people and north

Industry leaders tackled the big questions on why a Mac Point Stadium is the shot in the arm Tasmania needs, including why the benefits will spread beyond Hobart.

L-R Frances Hutchinson, Steve Old and Amy Hills at the Macquarie Point site of the proposed stadium. Tasmanian Hospitality Association CEO Steve Old, Tourism Industry Council Tasmania CEO Amy Hills, Business Events Tasmania Board Director Frances Hutchinson who are all backing the Macquarie Point Stadium from the perspective of tourism and hospitality opportunities it will create in Hobart and the state. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Macquarie Point stadium would be “Dark Mofo on steroids” for Tasmania’s hospitality industry.

That’s the belief of Tasmanian Hospitality Association chief executive Steve Old who was joined by the state’s tourism and events leaders at the site of the proposed stadium on Wednesday.

“Things like AFL football and major events that can be done with a roofed stadium will be a massive injector for our hospitality industry,” Mr Old said.

“It’ll be Dark Mofo on steroids for the hospitality industry.”

It’s a sentiment shared by Tourism Industry Council Tasmania CEO Amy Hills.

“We saw the Mona effect, look what happened to our jobs, economy and sense of pride in our state,” Ms Hills said.

“So I see this as being similar to that.”

While Business Events Tasmania bord director Frances Hutchinson said it would open up an opportunity for the state to bid on 110 business events, that would inject $332m into the economy.

Macquarie Point Multipurpose stadium south east gate. Picture: Mac Point Development Corporation

WINTER SEASON RELIES ON STADIUM

Business events are a really important part of the state’s economy, especially over winter and the shoulder season, Ms Hutchinson said.

She said it was important to consider what adding a 1100-1500 capacity event space to Tasmania’s offerings would provide the economy.

Mr Old and Ms Hills both said a roofed stadium’s impact on the quieter visitor periods would be a “game-changer”.

“Think we really do need to look at that full picture when we’re talking about this debate,” Ms Hills said.

“This is about winter, this is about shoulder season.

“This is also about the future of our visitor economy.”

Mr Old said things like AFL football and major events that can be done with a roofed stadium would be a massive injector for our hospitality industry.

“We need something like the stadium to really bring Tasmania to the forefront with other states, to compete with other states on major events, business events and concerts, to get Tasmania onto the map,” he said.

KEEPING YOUNG PEOPLE IN TASSIE

The Tourism boss said the stadium offered young Tasmanians a way to find work at home rather than needing to “cross the ditch”.

L-R Frances Hutchinson, Steve Old and Amy Hills at the Macquarie Point site of the proposed stadium. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“An infrastructure investment like a stadium gives that opportunity to work right here in Tasmania,” she said.

And there’s confidence the workforce is ready, but is being left on hold until the stadium is ticked off, Mr Old said.

“[I’m a] little bit frustrated … still haven’t got it ticked off,” he said.

WHAT ABOUT THE NORTH

The stadium will have the same impact of Cradle Mountain and Mona to drive visitors into the regions and beyond, Ms Hills says.

“We don’t believe it’s a Hobart centric thing at all,” she said.

“Visitors will hopefully tour our entire state, or get a thirst to come back.”

The hospitality boss also said a stadium would mean the north and north-west would be better off.

The stakeholders were speaking on their coordinated submissions to the Project of State Significance process.

Originally published as Why Mac Point Stadium is good for winter, young people and north