Mac Point’s $500 million footy plans

Could Tasmania’s AFL team be playing out of a brand new $500 million stadium at Macquarie Point? SEE THE NEW DESIGNS

Artist renders of a bold new plan for Hobart’s largely derelict waterfront area, Macquarie Point — proposing to construct a 27,000-seat stadium for AFL, cricket, other sports and rock concerts.

IS a $500 million, 27,000-seat brand new AFL stadium the future for Hobart’s Macquarie Point?

Based on the success of the Adelaide Oval, architect and brewery owner Don Gallagher has designed a stadium with hotel, convention centre, restaurants and cafes on the much-sought after area on Hobart’s waterfront.

Mr Gallagher told The Australian the stadium is designed to blend in with the surrounds rather than a traditional fortress.

“Traditional stadiums are like a walled fortress, whereas this concept is very flowing — it buries the buildings and creates a park,” he said.

“It’s landscape architecture more than built form. All vistas to the Cenotaph are kept.”

Artist renders of a bold new plan for Hobart’s largely derelict waterfront area, Macquarie Point — proposing to construct a 27,000-seat stadium for AFL, cricket, other sports and rock concerts.

The venue could be used to host a proposed Tasmanian AFL team, as well as Big Bash and international cricket and other sports and concerts.

Artist renders of a bold new plan for Hobart’s largely derelict waterfront area, Macquarie Point — proposing to construct a 27,000-seat stadium for AFL, cricket, other sports and rock concerts.

However, the concept has already received criticism from Federal independent member for Clark, Andrew Wilkie, who labelled the idea as “ridiculous.”

“The State Government needs to stop stuffing around and get on with the job,” Mr Wilkie said.

“It needs to lock in the planning work done already and, if it is to include a new sporting facility, that should be what the city needs and that is a rectangular stadium for soccer.”

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