UTAS Stadium primed to host more elite content after upgrades

Upgrades to UTAS Stadium have begun, which will shore up its future as a top quality AFL and AFLW venue when Tasmania has its own team. But it will also enable officials to chase “more, and more diverse” elite content.

Work has begun on upgrades at UTAS Stadium. Picture: Supplied

It will shore up the future of AFL and AFLW at the venue, but Stadiums Tasmania will also target more big ticket content like elite soccer and rugby league games at UTAS Stadium after work on the first stage of upgrades began this week.

Launceston City Council voted on Thursday night to transfer ownership of UTAS Stadium to Stadiums Tasmania, which unlocks $130m in investment from the state and federal governments.

The upgrades will ensure the venue is suitable long term for AFL games, with the Tasmania Devils set to enter the league in 2028. Local firm Fairbrother will complete the works, with the aim to have them in place before Hawthorn’s round three AFL clash with GWS Giants at UTAS Stadium on March 29.

The full works program is scheduled to be completed by early 2027, which will ensure the Devils have a suitable quality home venue to play at.

“This venue will be tee home of the Devils when they first enter the AFL and AFLW, so it’s critically important for that football club,” Avery said.

“It’s also critically important the redevelopment is done on time, and on budget, to meet the needs of the Devils.”

The initial upgrades to umpires, officials and players change rooms, medical massage and stappring rooms, and briefing and warm up spaces will bring the facility up to an Australian Tier Two standard.

Stadiums Tasmania CEO James Avery said it puts them in a position to bid more realistically for more content at UTAS Stadium.

Tasmanian Minister for Sport and Events Nick Duigan, Fairbrother project manager Luke Young and CEO of Stadiums Tasmania James Avery look over plans for the first stage of upgrades for UTAS Stadium on Friday. Picture: Jon Tuxworth

“It secures the future of AFL and AFLW football being played here, Big Bash cricket as well, but it opens up the opportunity to bring a wide range of other events here,” Avery said.

“That includes national carnivals the AFL or other codes might stage. Stadiums Tasmania is in conversation with a whole range of elite sporting organisations across the country including the likes of soccer and rugby league, the Melbourne Storm.

“To be tier two gives you a seat at the table to be able to start those conversations at the very least, and you don’t lose what you currently have as well.

“The development is going to be transformational for the ability to attract high quality events to the venue. Not just high quality sporting events, but also the ability to attract more live concerts and events, entertainment events, and business conferencing,

“Everyone’s committed to not only get more events into the venue, but a greater diversity of events as well.”

Avery was rapt the transfer of ownership from council had now been finalised.

“We’ve been in negotiations and disusssion for the best part of a couple of years to transfer ownership,” he said.

“I have to say the discussions with council have been excellent throughout. It’s a very important community asset and we want to ensure it remains that.”

Avery said plans outside the official upgrades are in place to make the venue more suitable for sports played on a rectangular field.

A-League side Western United has moved away from hosting games at Launceston in recent years.

“The redevelopment won’t be specific to turning the venue into a rectangular venue,” Avery said.

“There are other ways to do that to make the patron and spectator experience more enjoyable for those rectangular sports, and that’s something we’re looking at independent of the redevelopment project.”