Tasmanian AFL fans will have the opportunity to watch live AFL action on the island for the next three years through a new $9.1 million sponsorship agreement with Hawthorn Football Club.
The deal, which extends the Hawks’ 24-year partnership with the state for two more years, will see the club play eight games in Tasmania each season, including four AFL men’s home games at UTAS Stadium.
Minister for Sports and Events Nick Duigan said the agreement will generate around $46 million for the local economy.
“The numbers show that Tasmanians love getting out and watching live AFL games, with an average of more than 12,300 attending each of the games played at UTas Stadium in 2024,” he said.
“This new deal will complement the development of the Tasmania Devils and ensure we have access to fantastic AFL content right through until the Devils enter the AFL.”
The new deal also includes a community engagement program and a club development program, which will provide young people across the state with pathways to elite-level sports.
Independent Bass MP Rebekah Pentland, who advocated for the new agreement, hailed the announcement as positive news for the northern Tasmanian economy.
“The Hawks deal is vitally important for Launceston businesses, especially those in the tourism and hospitality sectors,” Pentland said.
“A new deal means they can plan with certainty. This is great news for Tasmanian footy fans and I’d support the state’s relationship with Hawthorn continuing even after we have our own team in the league.”
The Tasmania Devils are set to join the AFL in 2028, but Hawthorn’s Head of Tasmanian Operations David Cox has hinted at the possibility of both the Hawks and Devils playing in Tasmania.
“I think at the moment for us we’ve just inked a deal for 26/27 and that’s firmly where our energy and focus will lie,” Cox told News Corp.
“Anything beyond that will be a conversation that will happen in due course.”
North Melbourne has already announced it will ‘completely exit’ Tasmania at the end of the 2025 season.
