Luke Martin opinion: A stadium would put Tassie on the big stage

Tasmanians have an incredible opportunity in front of them at Mac Point — a massive urban renewal project that would provide a cultural, events and sports mecca boosting the local economy, writes Luke Martin >>

Early artist’s impression of a sports stadium at Macquarie Point.

TASMANIANS have an incredible opportunity in front of them at Macquarie Point.

A massive urban renewal project that would provide a cultural, events and sports mecca for the state.

A project that would be another Mona moment for Hobart.

A project that would give tradies an opportunity to work on a once-in-a-lifetime landmark.

A project that would help provide a massive boost to local businesses during the slower winter months.

A project that would bring new and incredible events to Tasmania that we’ve never had before, including arts and entertainment from some of the world’s biggest stars.

A project that would finally make sense for Macquarie Point, that would give the area a purpose other than just carparking.

A project that would inspire the next generation of Tasmanian sports stars.

This is a long-term vision for the future for Tasmania.

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Tourism and Industry Council Tasmania CEO, Luke Martin at Mac Point. Picture: Linda Higginson

Sure, the project has its critics, but that’s not unusual in Tasmania.

We love to scrap, and argue, and debate projects that are transformative. It’s who we are, and it’s a reflection of how much we all care for our home.

I reflected last week when Wrest Point celebrated its 50th anniversary that it was only ever built after being approved by a referendum with the very narrowest of margins.

For a century, we’ve been debating appropriate development on our beloved kunanyi, and we will probably continue to do so for many years to come.

The stadium has quickly turned into another of those polarising debates. But it is also an opportunity for us to take a long-term view about how we want our state to evolve over the years ahead.

From a tourism perspective, the stadium is a chance to truly achieve sustainable visitor growth.

After those incredibly difficult two years of Covid, it has been so good to see the vibrancy return to our towns and visitor destinations this summer. The tourism recovery is exceeding our ambitions and we have every reason to now plan with confidence for the future.

Tasmania needs a growing visitor economy. We are the most tourism-dependent economy in the country and so many of our emerging high-value sectors – like our artisan growers and producers, arts and creative sectors, and our construction industry – need strong tourism growth.

Designs of what Hobart's new AFL stadium at Macquarie Point could look like. Images supplied by AFL

We cannot expect to see perennial visitor growth year after year through the busy tourism period of Christmas to Easter. This will only put further pressure on visitor infrastructure in our regional communities, and that starts to impede Tasmanians’ capacity to fully enjoy our amazing summers.

Sustainable tourism growth means pursuing visitor growth through the shoulder and winter seasons.

Year-round visitor growth that balances out demand through the seasons encourages private investment and more sustainable full-time employment opportunities in our tourism and hospitality sectors.

The most effective way to drive year-round visitation is through events.

Events like Dark Mofo and the Festival of Voices have made the depths of winter one of our most vibrant times of year. Conferences, conventions and other participatory events fill our city and pump activity into our visitor economy during the times of year when the holiday market is soft.

The multipurpose Macquarie Point venue is the stage for Tasmania to go to another level as a year-round events destination. It provides the infrastructure for Tasmania to secure major events that complement our homegrown festivals and fill our calendar.

There is a reason why Pink is touring Dunedin, Harry Styles is performing on the Gold Coast, and the Foo Fighters visited Geelong. They are cities with populations similar in scale to Tasmania who have invested in event infrastructure to accommodate and attract these types of events, knowing they bring with them visitation and economic activity.

If Hobart had a stadium, would we see the likes of international star Harry Styles grace our stage? Photo: BACKGRID

Super and international rugby, Olympic soccer qualifiers, UFC, even the touring Edinburgh Tattoo. Today, Tasmania is completely left off the map for all these types of events. With this facility we will have a chance secure our share and support our year-round visitation aspiration.

And the most effective winter event activation we have in Tasmania is AFL football. Every year, AFL games pump about $50m into the Tasmanian economy.

The new venue at Macquarie Point not only secures that long-held dream of a team of our own but also, importantly, ensures the Hobart games achieve maximum benefit for the Tasmanian economy. Inner-city venues have transformed the AFL tourism experience in Perth and Adelaide.

Not only do they attract visitors to these cities but ensure their spend is concentrated in local hospitality and retail businesses.

Bellerive is never going to do that. It’s too small and stuck in a suburban setting completely disconnected from the city.

The economic reports have shown that investing in a new stadium at Macquarie Point won’t come at the expense of health or education. With support from the AFL and the federal government, the Tasmanian government can afford this.

If it happens, it means a Tasmanian AFL team will become a reality, it will unlock our potential as an events destination and ensure year-round vibrancy, and urban renewal in Hobart. Now, that’s something worth fighting for.

Luke Martin is the chief executive of the Tourism Industry Council Tasmania.