Football legend and former St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt backs stadium 2.0 idea

“It looks amazing”: Why Tassie football hall of famer Nick Riewoldt loves the alternative “world-class” Macquarie Point Stadium.

LAS VEGAS, NV - JANUARY 1: A view of Allegiant Stadium during the game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Las Vegas Raiders on January 1, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Picture Getty Images

A member of the state government’s own AFL Taskforce and one of Tasmanian football’s favourite sons Nick Riewoldt has endorsed the alternative Macquarie Point Stadium design as “world-class” and a “phenomenal” proposal.

Currently based in the USA working for stadium company PMY, which embeds state-of-the-art technology into the biggest and best venues in America, Riewoldt said the intergenerational plan for Hobart “looks amazing”.

Nick Riewoldt when he was on Celebrity MasterChef Australia. Picture supplied.

Melbourne-based Tasmanian Dean Coleman unveiled his innovative plan for a 23,000-seat retractable roof multipurpose stadium on the regatta grounds last week.

Some of the stadium is dug into the regatta/Cenotaph hillside and the other side projects 250m into the Derwent river on reclaimed land.

The bold low-rise stadium design incorporates 450 private apartments wrapped around its outsider walls with rivers views, a hotel and convention centre, private hospital, underground parking for 5000 cars, restaurants and commercial space.

Concept drawings of a new design for a Macquarie Point Stadium by the Stadia Precinct Consortia led by Dean Coleman and Paul Lennon. Picture: SolutionsWon

It forms part of a $2.3 billion alternative urban redevelopment plan for Macquarie point and Coleman guaranteed a government investment fixed at a maximum $750m and the rest to be financed commercially.

Concept drawings of a new design for a Macquarie Point Stadium by the Stadia Precinct Consortia led by Dean Coleman and Paul Lennon. Picture: SolutionsWon

The proposal is gaining momentum with Federal Hotels this week endorsing the plan.

Speaking on SEN Radio in Melbourne from the USA, the 316-game 718-goal former Saint and five-time All-Australian also liked the Coleman project.

“He has done a phenomenal job with the proposal,” Riewoldt said.

“It looks amazing. I’ve seen the website, I’ve spoken to Dean and the work I’m doing over here with our company PMY, we work a lot in the stadium space.

“We have been involved in the design of 30 of the past 31 NFL stadiums, NBA stadiums and Major League Baseball stadiums.”

That includes the $3 billion Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, home of the LA Raiders NFL team, and where NRL teams will start the 2024 regular season with a historic double-header with the Sea Eagles taking on the Rabbitohs, and the Roosters going head-to-head with the Broncos.

Drone shot of the Allegiant Stadium, home of the Las Vegas Raiders, Nevada, USA

“So we know what the pointy end looks like and what Dean has been able to put together is a world-class solution, there’s no doubt about that,” Riewoldt said.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 07: A general view during the national anthem prior to a game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on January 07, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Getty Images)

“It appeases all of the stakeholders, really importantly.

“There are a lot of ways to skin the cat but one that brings all of the stakeholders together has probably proven the most difficult obstacle to overcome.

“He seems to have found a solution that satisfies all parties, which is incredible.

“It looks world-class.”

Riewoldt called in to speak to Garry Lyon and Co. on SEN Breakfast.

“I’m in Houston, just at home, and the boys have just gotten home from school,” Riewoldt said.

“I’ve got my big bag of American footballs and little flags, and I’m coaching my middle boy Will’s flag football team so I’m about to shoot off and take him to practice.”