Tasmanian Government’s AFL licence bid sees it increase financial commitment

The Tasmanian Government’s ongoing campaign to secure an AFL team licence has seen it increase its funding commitment, from $100 million over 10 years to $144 million over 12 years.

In addition to pledging to pay up to half of the estimated $750 million cost of a new stadium on Hobart's waterfront for the 19th AFL team, the Tasmanian Government’s new commitment extends the term of its proposed funding deal by an extra two years, spending an additional $44 million over that 12-year period.

With AFL club presidents currently considering Tasmania's bid, recent days have seen a series of announcements on aspects of the bid.

Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff yesterday revealed what he said would trigger a "massive increase" in the AFL's operational, financial and resource commitment to the code in Tasmania, advising that state would benefit hugely if it secured the 19th licence.

Declaring that the proposed funding "struck the right balance", Premier Rockcliff stated "a yearly investment of some $12 million can return a yearly investment of $120 million-plus.”

Having previously advised that a new stadium would be key to securing a licence for the League’s 19th team, AFL Chief Executive Gillon McLachlan said on Monday that the stadium was one of 11 "work streams" that had not been resolved by the Tasmanian Government's bid documents, but said he was confident "we can continue to resolve that issue". 

McLachlan noted “we and the Tasmanian Government agree that a new stadium is important to the success of a new club and the Tasmanian economy.

"And we agree that we will solve that together at the right time."

The 18 AFL club presidents have taken the bid documents away to discuss with their boards, with a final decision on the bid expected in the next two to three weeks.

McLachlan said the AFL Commission's initial discussion about the bid was "really positive", while a meeting with the club presidents was "wide-ranging" and "pretty productive."

Over the weekend, the Tasmanian Government revealed that it would build a 23,000-seat stadium on a nine-hectare site at Macquarie Point south-east of Hobart's CBD - a location understood to be the AFL's preferred site.

The stadium proposal is contingent on the Federal Government paying half of its cost, estimated to be $750 million, and on private investment.

Media reports suggested that Dunedin’s roofed Forsyth Barr Stadium would be the model for the oval-shaped venue with indications that the AFL had secretly commissioned artist’s impressions of the new venue.

Lower image: Concept for the proposed Hobart Stadium. Credit: Philp Lighton Architects.