Macquarie Point multipurpose stadium would be ideal for Tasmanian AFL team, Parliamentary Committee hears

The Tasmanian Football Board chair says a new multipurpose stadium on the Hobart waterfront would be a perfect venue for a Tasmanian AFL team.

A NEW multipurpose stadium on the Hobart waterfront would be a perfect venue for a Tasmanian AFL team, a Parliamentary Committee has heard.

Tasmanian Football Board chair Jim Wilkinson appeared before the Legislative Council’s Inquiry into AFL in Tasmania yesterday.

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In response to questions from Huon MLC Robert Armstrong, Mr Wilkinson said a Macquarie Point venue would be perfect to host both AFL games and cricket matches — as well as other sports.

Jim Wilkinson. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

“Both cricket and Australian rules are looking for a new venue,” he said.

“It might be pie in the sky — and it might be two years too late — but my view would be that if you could have a purpose-built multi-use stadium … at Macquarie Point, that would be an ideal spot for it. The only way anybody would consider building that sort of stadium now in Tasmania is if the AFL said ‘Yes, you will be involved from 2025 or 2026’.”

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A sports stadium has not been part of plans for Macquarie Point to date.

The Legislative Council committee was formed last year to look into the viability of having a Tasmanian team in the AFL, possible benefits to the state, who should bear the financial cost, where the headquarters should be based, and other related issues.

Mr Wilkinson said that while 2025 had been mentioned as a possible timeline, Tasmania needed to be ready much sooner in case one of the existing clubs exited the league. “If something happens to one of the clubs for whatever reason, we’d hopefully be ready to say ‘we’re ready, what about us’,” he told the committee.

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He said the code was growing in Tasmania and participation rates also were on the rise — particularly in school competitions.

Kim Evans from the Department of State Growth said the task force had already done a lot of work.

“We’ve got to be ready when the opportunity comes up,” he said. “We’re not saying a licence will be available tomorrow or next year, but when one does come up, we have to be able to show that we have the structures in place ready to go.

“I don’t think we can underestimate the broader social and community benefits that would flow from having our own team — including uniting the state behind a common interest,” he said.