Luke Martin says Tasmania should pay for big ticket sporting events like Test cricket to boost tourism and economy

Sport will play a key role in rebooting Tasmania’s tourism sector after the coronavirus crisis and Luke Martin has one big out-of-the-box idea.

TASMANIA should pay to bring Test match cricket or a top-flight One-Dayer to the state next summer to help reboot our tourism industry and choking economy rather than accept “scraps” from Cricket Australia’s table, says tourism boss Luke Martin.

Mr Martin said sporting events would play a key role in Tasmania’s recovery from the economic damage caused by the coronavirus.

He is already in discussions with the State Government about bringing in A-League games, Super Rugby, NBL basketball and other events to get the party started when the crisis has passed.

Luke Martin. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

“We need to look at various events that will be really important to reactivate our market very quickly and sporting events will be a big part of that,” Mr Martin said.

“I am talking to the State Government about events being a big part of the relaunch or the reopening of industry.”

Mr Martin’s big ticket item — buy a Test match or ODI match and bypass the cricket leftovers Tasmania has been dished up in recent times.

A Test here next summer would gift Australian captain Tim Paine his only match as skipper in his home town.

“It’s about being more aggressive about how we get games to the state rather than having a sense of entitlement with the cricket because just expecting to get our share is not working,” Mr Martin said.

“We are being shafted in the same way the AFL has shafted us. The cricket has followed down the same path.

“Maybe if not a Test match then a top-line One Day game rather than the scraps, which is what we have been getting over the past couple of years.”

The Australian Supercars championship, Tasmania’s biggest sporting event, was due to be held at the weekend, but instead of Symmons Plains Raceway being a throng of 50,000 motor fans it was a ghost town.

TASMANIAN SUPERCARS ROUND POSTPONED

Targa Tasmania, which injects $10 million into the economy, due later this month was scrapped and the state’s eight AFL matches — played by Hawthorn in Launceston and North Melbourne in Hobart — are at least postponed.

Action from the match between the Hawthorn Hawks and the Brisbane Lions at UTAS Stadiumlast year. Picture: DYLAN BURNS/AFL PHOTOS VIA GETTY IMAGES

Mr Martin said that has cost Tasmania tens of millions of dollars.

“If we can get the V8s back in the latter part of the year — I know they are earmarking that — that would be something we absolutely want to see happening when it is safe to do so,” he said.

“It will be a great fillip for Launceston because it’s the biggest event in the state, so if we can get Tasmanians moving around that will be a big priority when travel restrictions are eased.

“With AFL games, I think we are looking at next year now because when the AFL resumes, I’m just not sure how Tasmania is going to feature in that.

“One thing is certain, we should be very aggressive about getting new events here when the time is right.”