AFL bosses head to Hobart to assess sites for stadium

AFL heavyweights will land in Hobart today to review potential sites for a future multipurpose roofed stadium. BID UPDATE>>>

AFL HEAVYWEIGHTS will land in Hobart on Friday to review potential sites for a future multipurpose roofed stadium.

The stadium is considered one of the last and biggest pieces of the state’s campaign to land the 19th licence, with a decision to be made next month.

The Mercury understands the AFL’s chief finance officer and general manager of broadcasting and clubs — who is also considered to be a possible replacement for outgoing chief executive Gillon McLachlan — Travis Auld and the league’s general manager property development Matthew Chun will assess Regatta Point and Macquarie Point as future homes of the Devils’ Den as well as any other prospective locations.

AFL CFO Travis Auld. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

They will also view potential sites for the team’s high performance training and administration centre, believed to be Cornelian Bay, the Domain near the TCA Ground and the University of Tasmania’s Sandy Bay campus.

Earlier this year, the state government revealed concept plans for a 27,000-seat retractable roofed stadium at Regatta Point at a cost of about $750m.

However, the AFL believe a stadium could be built for less.

The lack of development and the proximity to Hobart’s CBD — as well as being a cheaper option as it would not have to use reclaimed land like Regatta Point — still has Macquarie Point in the debate.

It comes as the state government has secured PricewaterhouseCoopers to undertake part of the stadium feasibility study.

The corporate finance accounting firm will do a demand analysis of the stadium to review the capacity actually required, as well as economic return on such an investment.

Artists impression of the new AFL/multipurpose Hobart Stadium.

It is also understood the AFL is seeking support from the state opposition as well as government for a commitment to the stadium as part of any proposed licence to help appease any dissenting club presidents.

Earlier this week speaking on FoxFooty’s AFL360 McLachlan outlined the importance of a new Devils Den.

“The stadium is one of the biggest issues,” McLachlan said.

“My team led by (the AFL’s general manager property development) Matthew Chun is working with the Tasmanians on all the options.

“We are looking at possible sites, costs and doing a report to come back because it is a critical piece of it.

“That’s the largest piece of the outstanding stuff. There’s a spot for it, I know that.”

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