First stage of redevelopment of Launceston’s UTAS Stadium to feature new grandstand

Set to include a grandstand with 1,000 seats, improved facilities for players and coaches and better food and beverage outlets, plans for a $65 million upgrade of the York Park stadium in Launceston have been unveiled.

The Tasmanian Government-backed expansion of the venue, known as UTAS Stadium under a sponsorship deal, will see not only a new Eastern Stand, replacing the existing grandstand on the eastern/outer side of the ground, but will also feature a new entertainment precinct.

Launching the first stage of what is planned as a three-stage redevelopment of the venue, Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff said it would provide "more contemporary infrastructure to take us forward", noting “it's been many, many years since a significant upgrade of this magnitude and it's very timely and secures footy for the north.”

With the Tasmanian Government lobbying for a new AFL licence for the state, City of Launceston Mayor Danny Gibson said expansion of the venue should allay fears that the UTAS stadium would be overlooked if Tasmania gets its own AFL team.

Mayor Gibson said he was delighted to see that planning was well underway for the redevelopment of UTAS Stadium, which would in turn improve the amenity of the ground as well as boosting the seating capacity for the fans, which has always been a priority from the Council’s perspective.

He noted “it’s really important that we see a mix of infrastructure being delivered for our community - infrastructure that delivers what we need to continue to grow and prosper, and one of those infrastructure projects we as a Council see as a priority is the redevelopment of the University of Tasmania Stadium.”

Adopted by Launceston City Council in 2021, the UTAS Stadium Future Direction Plan includes two further stages that ultimately see the venue’s seating capacity increase to 24,000.

With a likely $200 million cost, the Tasmanian Government is seeking $65 million from the Federal Government for the second and third stage development. This is in addition to $225 million that it is seeking from the Federal Government for its proposed Hobart Stadium.

Construction of the first stage UTAS Stadium redevelopment will start later this year and is expected to be finished in early 2025.

Hawthorn to continue playing in Launceston
As the UTAS Stadium plans were unveiled, the Tasmanian Government also announced that Hawthorn will play AFL fixtures in Launceston for the next three seasons as part of a $13.5 million contract extension.

However, the extended deal is contingent on Tasmania being granted an AFL and AFLW licence.

The Tasmanian Government had already secured Hawthorn games for the coming AFL season, but the extension would see the club remain in Tasmania until the end of 2025.

The Hawks will play four regular season matches and one pre-season match in Launceston per year.

Welcoming this, Mayor Gibson added “Hawthorn has a wonderful affiliation with Launceston Tasmania more broadly for the past 22 years and it’s particularly heartening to know that love affair will continue for at least another three years.”

Images: Architect's drawing of the new UTAS Stadium grandstand (top) and the project concept (below).