Stadiums Tasmania to consider roof for one of the state’s major sporting venues
A new body being created to manage the state’s major stadiums – such as Blundstone Arena and UTAS Stadium – will investigate the feasibility of adding a roof to one of the venues.
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A NEW entity to be set up to manage Tasmania’s stadiums will determine whether it is feasible to install a roof on one of the state’s existing major outdoor venues.
Premier Peter Gutwein said the establishment of Stadiums Tasmania was one of the Liberals’ state election promises.
Mr Gutwein said discussions have started with the City of Launceston and the Clarence City Council on the transfer of UTAS Stadium and Blundstone Arena to be owned, managed and developed by the new entity.
He said the possibility of a roofed stadium would be investigated.
“We were very clear in our policy in the election that Stadiums Tasmania would look at our current stadiums to see whether or not a roof might be possible,” Mr Gutwein said.
The Premier said a steering committee had been formed to oversee legislative reforms to establish Stadiums Tasmania.
Mr Gutwein said the new entity would oversee not only Blundstone Arena and UTAS Stadium but other state-owned assets such as the Derwent Entertainment Centre at Glenorchy and Launceston’s Silverdome.
“This will ensure that Stadiums Tasmania is responsible for the management of stadium assets into the future, including revenues and expenditures, with capacity to borrow funds for stadium upgrades and developments,” he said.
“We strongly believe Tasmania deserves to have its own Tasmanian teams in national competitions, and this will allow us to stay ahead of the curve and deliver the sporting infrastructure our state needs.
“It will also allow us to better invest in contemporary facilities that will enable Tasmania to secure national and international events into the future, including a $200 million upgrade of UTAS Stadium.”
War of words spurs locals to flock to stadium
THERE was more heat off the field than on it, but the week’s war of words sparked the interest with the Blundstone’s biggest crowd of the year attending the Roos-Suns battle.
No doubt assisted by the ticket giveaway and the verbal stoush between Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein and Gold Coast Suns chairman Tony Cochrane, a crowd of 6719 were on hand to see North Melbourne record its second victory of the season.
It surpassed the figures of 6007 and 5077 for North’s games against Melbourne and Brisbane respectively and nearly doubled the 3462 who saw the Roos draw against the Giants.
Launceston-based Roos fanatics Emily Tyson and Brodie Graesser made the trip to Hobart and were impressed with the turnout despite playing an “interstate team with basically no following”.
“It was a really good day,” Mr Graesser said.
“It’s always better driving home after a win.”
Ms Tyson looked forward to seeing a “big turnout” of North supporters at the round 20 Blundstone Arena clash against Geelong on July 31.
The North fans said Tasmania should “absolutely” have its own team.
Oliver Mayne, 6, enjoyed his first AFL half time Auskick match.
“He was just so excited and he said ‘did you see me kick a goal?’,” his mother Courtney Mayne said.
His pop, uncle, aunty and cousins all bought tickets to see their little footy star.
“He was very excited, especially getting his uniform – you couldn’t get the smile off his face,” Oliver’s mother Courtney Mayne said.
With the Suns having no following at home or abroad and the Roos on the rebuild, the return was a pleasing one, North Melbourne's chief executive Ben Amarfio said.
“The support for this game and the build-up was fantastic,” Mr Amarfio said.
“The turnout was great, all things considered, and we hope the Tassie footy fans that came to Blundstone enjoyed what was a great game.
“We really appreciate the co-operation from the government, and also the Mercury, in the lead up, and it showed what can be achieved when we all work together.
“We look forward to returning for our next game against Geelong in the coming weeks, and will announce some more fan engagement initiatives in due course.”
Despite the verbal barbs thrown all week, Mr Gutwein was a gracious host and went out of his way to welcome Mr Cochrane during his speech at North’s chairman’s lunch.
Gutwein v Cochrane live. Frosty, and that’s not the weather. #AFLNorthSuns@themercurycomau@TheMercurySportpic.twitter.com/GOyyVlgdHG
— Brett Stubbs (@Stubboir) June 26, 2021
Local footy star backs calls for Tassie AFL team
TASMANIAN footy star Alex Gilmour says it’s time the state is finally granted its own AFL team so young players like his two children can aspire to one day proudly represent their own state in the big league.
Gilmour, who was drafted to AFL club Richmond in 2003, is now the playing-coach of Southern Football League club Hobart.
He said daughter Mia, 10, plays for North Hobart while six-year-old son Flynn represents Claremont, with both showing a great love for the game.
“Mia’s certainly really athletic and is a good footy player and has got a future there,’’ he said.
“Flynn’s still really young with it all but I don’t think I’ve ever seen a kid that lives and breathes football like him.
“It would be great for them to have a Tasmanian side, to aspire to it and that it can be a reality if you’re good enough, there’s a team there in your home state.”
Speaking on the eve of the North Melbourne versus Gold Coast match in Hobart, Gilmour said Tasmania’s bid for its own AFL time was rightly attracting “a lot of noise” and gaining momentum.
“The more noise getting made about the place, hopefully the AFL take notice and some action will happen,’’ he said.
“To my eye, it will happen at some stage and it would be great for Tasmania.”
Gilmour said football-loving Tasmania deserved its chance to compete in the big league, referencing the Gold Coast Suns’ continued failure and reliance on AFL largesse.
“It’s going pear-shaped up there at the moment,’’ he said.
“We’re down here in Tasmania thinking ‘why can’t we have an opportunity’?”
Saturday’s match between North Melbourne and the Gold Coast Suns at Blundstone Arena starts at 1.45pm.
Scan out the QR code in Saturday’s edition of the Mercury to receive a free family pass to the match.
‘I don’t do stunts’: Suns boss punts Premier’s challenge
HE’S the most flamboyant club chairman in the AFL but Gold Coast boss Tony Cochrane has punted Premier Peter Gutwein challenge of a goal kicking competition at Blundstone Arena today.
Cochrane’s reason: “I don’t do stunts.”
This from a businessman, an award-winning music promoter, who produced tours by rock legends The Rolling Stones, Las Vegas swooner Sammy Davis Jr. and opera icon Placido Domingo and reputedly once spent a week sleeping on Frank Sinatra’s floor to convince him to return to tour Australia, despite the “Chairman of the Board” vowing he never would.
Mr Gutwein reacted strongly to Cochrane’s fierce stance that Tasmania should not be granted a 19th AFL license, the GCS saying the AFL cannot afford an additional team while some consider the Suns a black hole for top-up funding.
The Premier issued the challenge of a goal-kicking competition to Cochrane and asked Tasmanians to vote with their feet and show the Suns president and the AFL our appetite for our own team.
On his way to the airport to join the Suns on their chartered flight to Hobart to play North Melbourne in their round 15 AFL match on Saturday, the former part-owner and boss of the successful V8 Supercars was not interested in the Premier’s goal-kicking challenge.
“Next question _ I’m an AFL president, I don’t do stunts,” Cochrane said.
As for the Premier’s call to arms for people to pack Blundstone, Cochrane was onboard.
“That’s great,” he said.
“I hope there’s a full crowd there.
“I hope there’s a full crowd at every AFL game on the planet _ that’s the business we are in, selling tickets, having full crowds, we love it.”
Cochrane’s theatre credits include Grease: The Arena Spectacular and Australian productions of The Sound of Music, Annie and Hairspray, for which he and his fellow producers won a prestigious Tony Award.
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