AFL goes full-tilt on stadium: Gill McLachlan’s promise to Tasmania’s grassroots clubs

AFL chief Gill McLachlan has ramped up his push for a stadium at Mac Point, sending a letter to all grassroots footy clubs to tell them how they’ll benefit. READ THE LETTER >>

AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan during the TICT luncheon at Hobart. Picture Chris Kidd

AFL chief Gillon McLachlan has ramped up his push for a stadium at Macquarie Point.

McLachlan and head of AFL Tasmania Damian Gill have sent a letter to all grassroots football clubs in Tasmania explaining the need for a stadium and the support the AFL would give the community if the state was awarded an AFL team licence.

The stadium bid has become a political football since its announcement last year.

SCROLL DOWN TO READ THE FULL LETTER

Members on all sides of politics, state and federal, have publicly aired differing opinions on the need for the $715m multipurpose stadium in the Hobart CBD.

The AFL has put aside $15m for the stadium’s construction, with about another $360m over 10 years to be pumped into grassroots AFL in the state.

At a TICT event last Thursday, Mr McLachlan hinted that the AFL may be able to come to the party with more money for the stadium.

Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff and AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan during the TICT luncheon at Hobart. Picture Chris Kidd

Tasmania Premier Jeremy Rockliff is waiting on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to see if the federal government will put in $210m toward the build.

That announcement is expected in the May budget, if not before.

Mr McLachlan’s letter to the clubs spelt out the need for the stadium, saying Tasmanian was so close to having its own team announced in 2023.

“In order for it to happen, Tasmania needs to have a new stadium – a world-class facility that will be the epicentre of a broader urban renewal development at Macquarie Point,” Mr McLachlan said.

“The AFL clubs have made it clear they won’t support a new licence without a stadium.”

He said the stadium needed to be one the players wanted to play at, coaches wanted to coach at and that fans would travel the country to visit.

“The new Tasmanian club needs to be positioned to thrive from the start and long into the future, not set up to fail,” Mr McLachlan said,

“New or fully redeveloped stadiums were a prerequisite for Gold Coast Suns and GWS Giants prior to entry in the AFL competition.

“To be clear, this is not, and has never been, just a Tasmanian requirement.”

Mr McLachlan said that opportunities from having a Tasmanian AFL team could not be understated. “Having a team that will inspire young Tasmanians to one day play football at the elite level, based in their home state, will drive interest and momentum in community football more than ever before,” he said.

AFL INVESTMENT

• Minimum of $15 million in the stadium in the arts and entertainment precinct
• $10 million in the club’s training and administration facility
• $93 million in game development – supporting and growing local footy
• $33 million to develop young male and female talent in Tasmania
• $209 million in distributions to the new club over the first 10 years to cover base funding, variable funding, AFLW funding and special list establishment funding to ensure a strong team from the start.