Hobart AFL stadium bid enters federal assessment as site decision nears

The federal government's assessment of the funding case for a new AFL stadium at Hobart's Macquarie Point is expected to conclude this quarter, with Infrastructure Australia having completed its independent review of the $715 million project and the findings awaiting ministerial consideration.

The proposed 23,000-seat covered stadium would anchor a broader redevelopment of the former industrial precinct at Macquarie Point, immediately south of the Hobart CBD on the River Derwent, and is seen as the enabling piece of infrastructure for Tasmania's entry into the AFL as the competition's 19th club from 2028.

AFL Tasmania chairman Grant O'Brien said construction of the stadium on schedule was essential for the Tasmanian team's ability to host home matches in conditions suited to elite sport and premium crowd experiences. The current Blundstone Arena at Bellerive does not have a roof and lacks the facilities required for modern AFL finals matches.

Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff said the state government had met all conditions set by the Commonwealth for a funding decision, including confirmation of the AFL licence agreement, the state's capital contribution of $375 million, and an independent viability assessment of the Macquarie Point Redevelopment Authority's delivery model.

Construction is expected to require approximately four years from contract award, meaning a 2028 opening would require Commonwealth funding confirmation by the end of this year. The Tasmanian government confirmed it would seek a substitute arrangement — potentially a temporary stadium solution — if federal funding was delayed beyond the year's end.

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