Hobart’s Macquarie Point multi-purpose stadium build to start in 2024, Jeff Kennett predicts

Tassie will have the funding to build its multi-purpose Mac Point Stadium in the new year and work will begin just a year later, ex-Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett says.

TASMANIA will have the funding to build its multi-purpose Macquarie Point Stadium early in the New Year and construction will start in 2024.

That’s the view of Jeff Kennett a day after he stepped down as Hawthorn president, a title he held for 17 of the past 23 years.

Kennett believes the state government’s $375m commitment for the $750m stadium would be matched by a combination of Federal Government and private sector investment.

New designs of what Hobart's new AFL stadium at Macquarie Point could look like. Images supplied by AFL

The AFL is also likely to contribute, as it did with Gold Coast, GWS, Adelaide Oval, Geelong and Perth stadiums.

“Some of the funding will come from the Federal Government but I don’t think they will put in all of the money,” Kennett said.

“The government will be working with other interested parties for investment in the stadium.

“When they get the finances worked out, they should be able to do the preliminary work on the stadium site in the second half of next year and then hopefully start building in 2024.

Jeff Kennett, ex-president of the Hawthorn Football Club, during the 2022 AFL Round 19 match between the North Melbourne Kangaroos and the Hawthorn Hawks at Blundstone Arena on July 23, 2022 in Hobart, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

“That will have it completed by 2025/26, and from then it’s a matter of getting together the administration, the players and coaches to put together a viable team.

“From the word go you need to make sure the team is competitive. It won’t be as competitive as the top six or eight, but the Tasmanian people will want it to be a competitive side.”

Hawthorn recently signed a new one-year deal to keep playing four home-and-away games in Launceston next year, drawing an ANZAC Round game at UTAS Stadium Adelaide on April 23, followed by North Melbourne (Round 3), West Coast (Round 10) and Western Bulldogs (Round 22).

Kennett is confident the Hawks will keep playing four games a season in Launceston in a continuation of its present deal with the state government until Tasmania joins the AFL.

“We’ve had indications from the government that is the case,” he said.

“The last survey that was done said we bring in $30m-$40m million a year to Tasmania so there is real economic value for Tasmania to keep that going until a decision is made for a Tasmanian team, and it will happen in due course.

“Even when Tassie gets a team, I imagine we would still be scheduled to play games in Tasmania every year, whether that be in Hobart or Launceston.

“I have no doubt Hawthorn will be part of Tasmania for many years to come.”