The CEO of the AFL has reiterated that Tasmania must build a stadium to become the 19th club in the football league.
Andrew Dillon said he would not budge on the ‘no stadium, no team’ requirement outlined in the agreement between the AFL and the Tasmanian Government, which was signed by Premier Jeremy Rockliff last year.
The proposed multi-purpose $715 million waterfront stadium has become a political football ahead of the upcoming state election, with parties from all sides expressing differing views.
The Liberals have pledged to cap the state government’s spending on the project at $375 million, while Labor say they will return to the AFL to renegotiate the deal.
The Greens, while like the Liberals and Labor support the team, they don’t support the stadium and want it scrapped.
“We’ve been really clear on saying that the licence that we have for the 19th team in Tasmania … that we do need to have a stadium in Hobart, at Macquarie Point, [seating] at least 23,000 people and with a roof,” Dillon said on Wednesday.
“That’s the agreement the we have with the Tasmanian Government and that’s the agreement that the AFL commission has.”
In addition to the $375 million set aside for the build by the Tasmanian Government, the Commonwealth is contributing $240 million and the AFL $15 million.
The remaining $85 million is expected to come from borrowings and the private sector.
The club plan to unveil their name, team colours and jersey next month and aim to join the competition as the 19th AFL team by 2028.
