Tasmanian government reveals plans for new AFL stadium

Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein has outlined details of his government’s plans for a new AFL stadium during his State of the State address at parliament today. The Northern Suburbs Transit Corridor would run right under the new $750m retractable roof stadium on the Hobart waterfront delivering sporting fans and arts and cultural participants almost to their seat.

The government revealed its preferred site for a new stadium as Hobart’s Regatta Ground foreshore, which neighbours the Macquarie Point site in Hobart’s CBD.

Concept plans show a new stadium with a retractable roof built on the foreshore, jutting out on to the River Derwent. The stadium would have seating capacity of about 27,000 and cost about $750 million.

Key stakeholders, including several of the state’s leading sports organisations, have been briefed on the government’s plans to push forward with exploring the feasibility of a new AFL stadium in that location.

Visionary transport options play a key part in the Tasmanian Liberal Government’s bold vision for the new multi-purpose stadium at Regatta Point, which would deliver significant social and economic outcomes, and create a spectacular and iconic entry to Hobart.

The site would have minimal impact on residential areas and is ideally located given its proximity to the city and to future passenger transport links, such as the Northern Suburbs Transit Corridor as well as increased ferry activity on the river.

A press release on the Premier of Tasmania’s website stated:

The introduction of River Derwent ferries has proven a great success with around 600 passengers per day using the service through summer. The attractiveness of ferries was underlined when thousands of people chose the ferries to get to and from the Ashes Test at Blundstone Arena and we would expect the same interest for a sporting event from people attending from the Eastern Shore.

The stadium would sit right on top of the Northern Suburbs Transit Corridor and the two transformational projects complement each other perfectly. 

The Government remains committed to activate the Northern Suburbs Transit Corridor with an effective public transport solution within 5-10 years of the date of signing the Hobart City Deal, that is, between 2024-2029. 

We are evaluating a number of modes of transport, including bus rapid transport, along the corridor and plan to make a decision on the best solution for the corridor later this year.

The new stadium, subject to stakeholder consultation, planning approval and achieving later this year an AFL licence, was a recommendation of the AFL Taskforce, and will put Tasmania on the national and international stage for sporting, entertainment and cultural events on a scale that hasn’t been possible in the past. 

The opportunities this will bring to the State with the hosting of national and International events are enormous.

Philp Lighton Architects has created a concept design for the proposed stadium, which will include a waterfront hospitality precinct, a variety of transport options and an indoor arena suitable for multiple sport and entertainment events.

Image: ©ABC NEWS. An artist’s impression of the proposed stadium on Hobart’s foreshore. Credit: Philp Lighton Architects

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