The boss of one of the world’s largest entertainment promoters has given the proposed Macquarie Point stadium a huge thumbs up, saying it will “surprise everybody” with its ability to attract major acts to Tasmania.
TEG Group chief executive Geoff Jones has revealed he is a “great believer” that the $700 million stadium will bring world-class acts and performances to the state.
“We’re about to tour Iron Maiden in a few weeks. If the stadium was built, I’d bring Iron Maiden there. Iron Maiden would do maybe 15,000. It’d be a really good crowd,” Jones told Local Radio.
“I couldn’t guarantee Taylor [Swift] because we don’t promote her, but … anything from sort of 10,000 to 12,000 [people], which you currently don’t have a venue for, would be perfectly suitable.”
Designed to host a variety of events beyond AFL and cricket, the stadium is set to accommodate concerts, conventions and exhibitions.
Jones said he has “no doubt at all” that Tasmania would easily sell a minimum of 10,000 to 12,000 tickets, making the journey south worthwhile for promoters.
“I’m very confident the sort of acts that will come here based on the knowledge we have of the market around the whole country and what’s done well in Tasmania to date,” he said.
“I have every confidence and we’ll back ourselves and we’ll bring stuff to the new stadium.”
He highlighted the stadium’s roof as a “massive attraction”, noting that it guarantees safety, prevents rainouts and creates a “really good environment” for fans.
“My experience and the experience a lot of us have in the industry, cities like Hobart or Launceston or Newcastle or Geelong or Gold Coast or all these sort of places, when you bring quality content to them, people want to go and see that quality content,” Jones said.
“I think the new stadium when it’s built in Hobart will be exactly that sort of scenario. People will want to come to it. Promoters will want to bring content there.”
“Concerts and other content bring very good economic impact into the market they go into.”
“It’s not just the people going to the stadium, it’s the hotels they occupy, the restaurants they go to, the taxis they catch, the Ubers, etc, etc.”
“There’s many, many people and businesses benefit from the flow and effect of event tourism.”
“Tasmania is already a very appealing place to come to because of all your natural beauty and the things to see there.”
“You add this new stadium and, I have huge respect for Mona and I’ve been there before and I’ll go again, but this could be the new addition to the Tasmanian attractions.”
