North Hobart Oval’s maximum capacity has been confirmed at 11,135 spectators as excitement builds for the Tasmania Devils’ historic VFL return in March.
An independent assessment by qualified experts determined the crowd limit based on modern safety standards, including emergency exits and evacuation times.
The venue reportedly drew a crowd of more than 24,900 in 1979 for the 1979 TFL Grand Final.
City of Hobart CEO Michael Stretton said safety now has to come first at the venue.
“North Hobart Oval has a proud history of hosting major football events, but modern safety standards are based on emergency exits, entry and exit times and amenities, not historic crowd numbers,” he said.
The capacity is determined by exit flow rates, with the venue required to evacuate all spectators within eight minutes.
Four main exits serve the ground: Ryde Street southern (3,152 capacity), Ryde Street eastern (3,280), Argyle Street (1,968) and Letitia Street (2,752).
The venue must also provide over 70 additional toilet facilities and 60 basins to comply with the National Construction Code.
“I have to say that it is a nice problem to have to be worrying about exceeding the occupancy limit at North Hobart Oval again,” Stretton said.
He said the Devils’ formation creates a compelling reason to consider venue upgrades over time.
“In the meantime, we must support the Devils as they establish themselves, acknowledging that many of our venues in the state are currently not up to the standards required for the AFL/VFL industry,” he said.
Tasmania Devils CEO Brendon Gale said the club was excited by strong community support and had not requested a capacity increase.
“North Hobart Oval is a special place for our game, and we’re proud to be bringing top-level football back to this historic ground,” he said.
“The appetite for football in Tasmania is enormous, and the support we are seeing for the club already is incredibly encouraging.”
Tickets go on pre-sale to members on March 10 for the inaugural VFL game on March 30.
