Independent MP David O’Byrne has criticised Hobart City Council for ‘failing’ to invest in North Hobart Oval, after the Tasmania Devils’ historic first VFL match drew a capacity crowd of 11,000.
The Devils defeated Coburg by 17 points on Saturday in front of a sold-out crowd, in the first VFL game played in Tasmania since 2008.
O’Byrne, the independent member for Franklin, said on social media the council’s underinvestment was “a disgrace”.
“… If the Hobart City Council had invested money into their facility over the years, beyond the playing surface, they could have got a few thousand more in there,” he wrote.
The Hobart City Council had earlier rejected criticism of the venue’s capacity limit of 11,135, based on an independent safety assessment.
The ground has historically held much larger crowds, including nearly 25,000 at the 1979 TANFL grand final between Clarence and Glenorchy.
Chief executive Michael Stretton said the limit reflects what the venue’s exits can safely accommodate within an eight-minute evacuation window.
“Modern safety standards are based on emergency exits, entry and exit times and amenities, not historic crowd numbers,” he said prior to the match.
Any increase would require physical upgrades to exits and facilities, he said.
The council was also required to install more than 70 additional toilets and 60 basins to meet code requirements for a full-capacity event.
Stretton acknowledged the demand was a positive sign.
“It is a nice problem to have,” he said, adding there was now “a compelling reason to consider the necessary upgrades”.
Devils chief executive Brendon Gale said the club had not formally requested a capacity increase.
“Both Tasmania Football Club and Hobart City Council share the same goal – a safe, enjoyable and memorable experience for all,” Gale said.
O’Byrne said the sell-out crowd vindicated years of campaigning against sceptics.
“There will be ups and downs and zigs and zags in this journey, but what a day to celebrate,” he wrote.
“All these years of believing and challenging the naysayers.”
“I have lost count of the times people have said, it will never work, nobody goes to see [North Melbourne] at Bellerive so why would they go and watch Tassie?”
