AFL Chief Executive Andrew Dillon firm on Hobart Stadium requirement for new Tasmanian team

With the funding of the planned new Hobart Stadium having emerged as a major issue in the Tasmanian election, AFL Chief Executive Andrew Dillon has reiterated that the state must build a stadium for its team to be the competition’s 19th club.

With doubts emerging over whether the planned $715 million budget will be sufficient for the ground in Hobart's CBD and the Labor opposition having advised it will seek to renegotiate the deal agreed by the present Government, Dillon advised that the AFL is not backing away from its 'no stadium, no team' condition for the new Tasmanian club.

Tasmania Premier Jeremy Rockliff, who is aiming to be re-elected after calling an early poll for 23rd March, has pledged to cap state government spending on the Macquarie Point stadium at $375 million.

Opposition leader Rebecca White has vowed to renegotiate the deal with the AFL if Labor is elected, insisting the waterfront stadium is not "the right priority for our state".

White, who still wants an AFL team for Tasmania but without the cost to taxpayers, has noted “we also don't believe it can be built on that site, for that price and in that time frame.

When asked if he would be willing to renegotiate the agreement for the Tasmanian club, Dillon said he would not be drawn into "hypotheticals".

He noted “we've been really clear on saying that the licence that we have for the 19th team in Tasmania, which will be an amazing thing for Tasmania ... that we do need to have a stadium in Hobart, at Macquarie Point, (seating) at least 23,000 people and with a roof, because that was a pivotal part of the business case.”

Dillon was adamant the AFL would go ahead with unveiling the nickname, widely tipped to be the Devils, and jumper in March despite the possibility of a change of state government.

As well as the $375 million pledged by the Tasmanian Government, the Federal Government is contributing in $240 million, the AFL $15 million, while $85 million is expected to come from borrowings and the private sector.

The club is aiming to enter the competition as the 19th AFL team in 2028.

Images: Andrew Dillon speaks to reporters in 2023 (top, credit: AFL Photos) and the latest concept for the new Hobart Stadium (below, credit: Infrastructure Tasmania).