Hobart stadium approved in ‘historic day’ for Tasmanian Devils AFL team

Tasmania’s parliament has approved the construction of a new AFL stadium as the home of the Devils AFL and AFLW team.

The historic move was voted through the state’s parliament at 11pm on Thursday night after two days of debate.

The planned stadium at Macquarie Point, Hobart, is estimated to cost $1.13 billion and seat 23,000 fans to watch the Tasmania Devils and other sports teams from 2028.

“Today is a historic day in the short history of the Tasmania Devils Football Club,” the AFL said in a late night statement.

“Since the announcement of the club on May 3, 2023, the Devils have made great progress, ticking off milestones along the journey, and pleasingly today, through parliament, the Tasmanian people have spoken.”

Political football

The stadium’s approval has been politically divisive with the vote from Tasmania’s legislators only just passing, due to worries the state cannot afford its share of the construction costs.

However, Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff took to Facebook to celebrate the news on Thursday night.

“Mac Point has just passed the Tasmanian parliament. Our democracy has spoken. Let’s unite and move forward together,” Mr Rockliff said.

The chief executive of the AFL Andrew Dillon also cheered the approval as ‘a historic day’ for Tasmania and the competition.

“This is an incredibly important outcome for everyone who has worked tirelessly to see a Tasmanian footy club compete on the national stage, and for the hundreds of thousands of Tasmanians who have stood behind the Devils with such passion and pride,” Mr Dillon said on Thursday night.

The project, backed by the governing Liberals and Labor opposition, on Wednesday garnered the support required from independent MPs to pass the upper house.

Bec Thomas, Tania Rattray and Casey Hiscutt declared they would back the stadium, meaning it has the eight votes needed.

Ms Thomas secured a deal with the Liberal government in return for her support, including capping the state’s stadium contribution at $875 million and extra oversight of the build.

The AFL is contributing $15 million to the stadium and the federal government $240 million, with Tasmania paying $375 million plus the remainder in borrowings.

Critics say the project is not the right priority for the state amid ballooning debt set to more than double to $10 billion by 2028-29.

Tasmania’s planning authority recommended the stadium not go ahead, saying it was too big for the site and its costs outweighed its benefits.

Ms Thomas was briefly in tears during her speech to parliament and declared it was the hardest decision she has ever made.

“I am genuinely sorry to those who desperately did not want me to support this,” she said on Wednesday.

“I really hope that in time you can come to understand the reasons behind my decision.”

Ms Thomas said concerns over the price tag were valid but the stadium was about hope, aspiration, opportunity and the AFL dream.

Ms Rattray, considered a likely ‘yes’ prior to the debate, said she wanted to create a legacy for future generations by approving the stadium.

“We forget that infrastructure is more than concrete and steel, it’s about identity,” she said.