Business Events Tasmania: Macquarie Point stadium would give state larger slice of $35 billion conference market

A stadium at Macquarie Point would help Tasmania claim a larger slice of the $35 billion national business events market, and supercharge the state into a premier conference destination.

Concept design of the proposed Macquarie Point stadium. Picture: Cox Architecture

A multi-purpose stadium at Hobart’s Macquarie Point would help Tasmania claim a larger slice of the $35 billion national business events market, and transform the state into a premier conference destination, the Tasmanian Planning Commission has heard.

Presenting the submission of independent membership organisation Business Events Tasmania on the second day of public hearings into the project, chief executive officer Marnie Craig said the stadium’s proposed function facilities would allow Tasmanian to compete for larger and more lucrative conferences involving up to 1500 delegates, from both interstate and overseas.

Ms Craig told the hearing that the stadium’s value proposition for her industry was further enhanced by the planned proximity of the Good Shed, which offered enormous potential as a trade exhibition space.

Concept design of the proposed Macquarie Point stadium. Picture: Supplied

Referring to claims that the stadium could attract an additional 110 conferences to Tasmania each year, TPC panel chair, Paul Turner SC, asked Ms Craig why organisers of professional and industry “association conferences” would choose the island state over alternative destinations such as Queensland.

“Tasmania is a very strong destination and has a very strong appeal,” Ms Craig replied.

“Anecdotally, conference organisers tell us that in Australia it’s the destination where they see the highest number of delegates … because they’re bringing family and friends and having a holiday beyond the conference.

“So while we do have that competitive edge in the marketplace, currently many conferences cannot consider Tasmania because we don’t have the infrastructure.”

Ms Craig told the TPC hearing the location of the proposed Mac Point stadium satisfied the critical issue of having conference venues located in walkable distance from accommodation facilities, claiming Hobart had approximately 4000 hotel rooms that could be reached on foot from the Evans St site.

The Business Events Tasmania boss said the local hospitality sector – already a significant beneficiary of the state’s existing conference roster – stood to profit handsomely from any increase in the number and frequency of major corporate meet-ups, particularly those held in tourism’s off season.

Paul Turner SC, Tasmanian Planning Commission panel chair. Picture: Zak Simmonds

“When we have conferences of 1100 - which is our absolute capacity - everybody sees it and feels it,” she said.

“So restaurants and bars are regularly telling us … about the contribution they make.

“Association conference delegates are high-yielding, spending around three times that of a leisure visitor, and they often travel in between May and September.”

The TPC hearings, which are required as part of the independent assessment of the stadium under Project of State Significance legislation, are being held across multiple dates in June and July.

Representatives listed to address the panel over coming weeks include the Federal Group, the Glebe Residents’ Association, Cricket Australia and Cricket Tasmania, and Our Place – Hobart.

The Australian Football League has made the construction of a roofed stadium at Macquarie Point one of the conditions of its agreement with the state government to add Tasmanian teams to both its men’s and women’s competitions.

The Project of State Significance process, initiated by Premier Jeremy Rockliff in October 2023, is continuing despite subsequent government plans to pass enabling legislation which would effectively halt the TPC’s independent assessment of the stadium.

Either scenario requires the stadium to be approved by both houses of Tasmania’s parliament.