When Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein takes the podium today in his quaintly named State of the State address and announces a commitment to build a $750 million stadium… well frankly that’s the end of the debate.
Tasmania will have its own team in the future AFL. It will be time to move beyond the if and start to formalize the when. A timeline that tentatively runs to 2027.
A new stadium was identified by the local Task Force as the silver bullet in the State’s published ambition to join the AFL.
The authors didn’t feel they could demand it given the cost and the tone in which it was couched suggested they never truly believed it would be built.
For all the Tasmanian Government adopted in its ferocious lobbying the notion of a new Stadium was rejected.
The commitment was to redevelop York Park and Bellerive. Neither generated any excitement or did much to advance the overall cause.
Blundstone Arena in Hobart is quite beautiful with the Derwent as a backdrop, but it is awkwardly placed and difficult to access across the bridge from the heart of Hobart.
A stadium on the banks of the iconic river at Regatta Point – that’s a game changer.
A new stadium, the right stadium, is transformative for a city. A magnetic centre. As much a show piece as a gathering place.
Optus Stadium is a powerful symbol for Perth. Adelaide Oval is practically perfect in everyway.
We spoke last week of the MCG as the beating heart of Melbourne in a sporting precinct that defines the town.
That’s what Tasmania is ready to create in a 27,000-seat stadium with a retractable roof.
A spectacular and iconic entry to the city the premier says. The Devils Den has quite the ring to it.
It’s one thing to bluster and demand and even threaten. To stamp your foot for recognition and what is fair and deserved. The Premier has done all of that… and he’s served his state well.
But when you back it up with the public funding for the stadium… that’s the ultimate commitment and it’s a currency the AFL understands.
I have no doubt the AFL has been pushing Tasmania hard… how much do you want it? Now all the cards have been turned over.
To deny Tasmania this would now be chronically short sighted and mean spirited. Tassie will build it and the AFL must come.
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