AFL makes early Christmas gift for Macquarie Point Stadium build

The AFL has surprised everyone with an eight-figure cash commitment for Macquarie Point Stadium. LATEST >>

GILLON McLachlan has dropped an early Christmas present by revealing the AFL would invest $15m to the Macquarie Point Stadium.

The cash injection by league headquarters was the first financial boost toward the roofed, multi-purpose stadium outside the $375m committed by the state government for the $750m project.

Having last month signed an in-principal agreement with the state government for a 19th licence, a Tasmanian AFL team took a step closer with McLachlan’s funding news.

Jeremy Rockliff with the AFL’s image of Hobart’s Macquarie Point Stadium.

In a statement, the state government said it was an important investment, and a financial partnership it will emphasise in talks with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese if the opportunity arises next week.

“The AFL’s commitment is welcome news,” the statement said.

“The Rockliff Liberal Government will continue to fight for the team and facilities Tasmania deserves.

“The Premier is looking forward to briefing the Prime Minister, and the Federal Government also getting on board.”

While the money was a welcome festive gift, the AFL confirmed there would be no more team or stadium news from AFL House this year.

The AFL wants a Tasmanian team, which is penciled in for a kick-off in 2027, with the caveat that it must have a bespoke stadium.

“The big piece is the stadium,” McLachlan said.

“The Tasmanian government have made an extraordinary funding commitment to that.

“We’ve committed $15m to the stadium and we’re looking at other funding partners.”

Gillon McLachlan, AFL Chief Executive Officer. (Photo by Martin Keep/AFL Photos/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

The state government and the AFL are lobbying the Federal Government for a funding commitment to the Mac Point Stadium, as well as private investors as funding partners.

When he was in Hobart three weeks ago to announce the in-principle agreement on the team, McLachlan said: “We will work hand-in-glove with this government on securing the funding and getting the stadium built.”

And he committed to finding the rest of the money from the Feds or private sector.

“There’s one substantive one there, so there’s a series of meetings and discussions that are either happening or planned,” McLachlan said.

“Then after that, it takes as long as it takes.”

Opposition Leader Rebecca White was not impressed.

“The AFL should grant Tasmania its licence without the need to build a taxpayer-funded stadium,” she said.

“There are far more important things that government should prioritise than stadiums we don’t need.

“For the AFL to offer to pay two per cent of the projected cost of stadium is an insult.”