You don’t need Taylor Swift says leading stadium player Geoff Jones who likes what he sees under Macquarie Point roof

Forget Taylor Swift – the future success of Hobart’s new roofed stadium does not hinge on megastar assistance, thanks to its desirable CBD location, and ability to host all-weather events.

Tasmania Football Club director Laura McBain, TEG chief executive Geoff Jones, and Macquarie Point Development Corporation chief executive Anne Beach at Frogmore Creek wine bar in Hobart. Picture: Duncan Abey

Forget Taylor Swift.

The commercial success of Hobart’s new roofed stadium does not hinge on megastar assistance, a leading Australian events industry player has said, thanks to its desirable CBD location, ability to host all-weather cultural events such as operas and stage shows, and a tourism curiosity factor that could one day “rival MONA”.

Geoff Jones, the chief executive of entertainment giant TEG – which sells more than 30 million tickets across the globe each year through its Ticketek operation – said the proposed Macquarie Point stadium would have no problem in generating a critical mass of sports, concerts, and musical acts every year.

Image supplied by Macquarie Point Development Corporation showing an artist's impression of a concert at the proposed multipurpose stadium.

“If the stadium hosted events like heritage rock acts, such as Iron Maiden, people would come to Tasmania and spend money, eat at restaurants, stay at hotels, catch taxis and Ubers around, and visit some of the great attractions that Tasmania has plenty of,” Mr Jones said in Hobart on Tuesday, after receiving a comprehensive briefing on the latest architectural designs from the Macquarie Point Development Corporation.

“You wouldn’t need the mega shows here, and in fact Taylor Swift only played in Sydney and Melbourne when she was in Australia.

“Tasmania is a really desirable place, and it stands for something.

“So your normal concerts that tour the mainland cities, I think will visit Tassie as well.”

Mr Jones described the stadium’s much-debated roof as a “force multiplier” for the Hobart economy, because it took weather out of the equation, and allowed the facility to host events for 12 months of the year.

A Macquarie Point stadium will not need big acts like US singer Taylor Swift to perform there to succeed, says a stadium boss. Picture: AFP

The events specialist, whose work has taken him to stadiums across the world, said Macquarie Point would instantly hold a competitive advantage over every stadium in the country except for Marvel.

“Following the football, there’s a big, big touring season and Tasmania will have the capability to bring things here, and the roof makes Hobart so attractive,” Mr Jones said.

“It is essential, and certainly as a music promoter, our worst friend is bad weather.

“But I’ve seen the renderings, and the stadium looks really consistent with the environment, and what the state stands for.

“It will complement what is already a beautiful city.’

Mr Jones, who shared his industry insights with Tasmanian industry powerbrokers at a lunch organised by the Tasmanian Football Club, said the Devils’ future looked bright, led by an accomplished board and backed by a footy-mad public.

“The difference between Tassie and the more recent expansion clubs is that this is a football state,” he said.

“You’ve got that heritage, and this is a Tasmanian game.”