A Macquarie Point multi-purpose covered stadium could become Tasmania’s ‘cathedral’

A Macquarie Point multi-purpose covered stadium could become Tassie’s sport and cultural “cathedral”, the new chair of Stadiums Tasmania says. See what we could expect >>

Michael Malouf is the new chair of Stadiums Tasmania. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

A MULTIPURPOSE stadium at Macquarie Point could become Tasmania’s sport and cultural “cathedral” and new Stadiums Tasmania chairman Michael Malouf says the whole of Australia is barracking for Tasmania to get an AFL licence.

In Hobart only a day after his appointment to head Stadiums Tasmania’s new board, Mr Malouf was buoyant about the state’s bid for a 19th licence, with the AFL still holding back on an announcement.

As a former chief executive officer of the City of Geelong, CEO of Carlton Football Club and chief executive officer of City of Melbourne Council, Mr Malouf is in no doubt what an AFL team could do for the state.

“Getting an AFL licence and an AFLW licence will be historic and the whole of Australia is barracking for Tasmania to get that licence,” Mr Malouf said.

FIRST LOOK: New designs of what Hobart's new AFL stadium at Macquarie Point could look like. Images supplied by AFL

“But once you get the licence, to have a world-class stadium to host that team and a stadium that is modern and multipurpose with a precinct for arts, culture, entertainment, and that’s outward-looking, linking back to the city, that will be transformational.”

Mr Malouf has seen what modern venues can do for other cities like Geelong, Adelaide and Perth.

“That is 100 per cent transferable to Hobart,” he said.

“At the moment you don’t have an AFL licence. But when you do get an AFL licence and leverage that with a new stadium, that will have a huge economic, social and environmental impact on the economy.

“You won’t know yourselves down here.”

Geelong’s Stadium. Picture: Alan Barber

Geelong is Mr Malouf’s favourite example of a football stadium being an economic and social showpiece for a city.

“Having an AFL team in the middle of Geelong at a multi-use precinct, with netball, swimming, cricket – it’s just the centre of the town, almost a cathedral,” Mr Malouf said.

“The state government, federal government, the footy club and the AFL contributed to building a stadium that recently hosted the Foo Fighters, will host the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games, World Cup cricket, the Matildas, the Renegades [BBL] and a whole range of other activities that will really solidify the Geelong economy and the community is so much better off for having it.”

Drummer Taylor Hawkins of American rock band Foo Fighters performing at GMHBA Stadium in Geelong on Friday, March 4 2022. Picture: Brett Schewitz / Frontier Touring

Stadiums Tasmania’s charter is to look after five Tasmanian venues – Blundstone Arena, MyState Bank Arena, UTAS Stadium, the Silverdome and Dial Park in Penguin.

“Everybody has done a really good job in getting them to a really good condition,” Mr Malouf said.

“The purpose of Stadiums Tasmania is to take them to another level and gain maximum potential out of all of those stadiums to attract national and international events.

“The government’s view is to maximise the potential of all those stadiums for the economic and social wellbeing of the state.”