Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff has unveiled the much-anticipated design for the proposed Macquarie Point stadium in Hobart.
The new stadium, poised to become the world's largest timber-roofed stadium, is set to be the future home of Tasmania's AFL team, the Tasmania Devils, and promises to be a landmark development for the state.
The design, informed by the precinct's maritime heritage and its history as a rail yard, features a compact seating bowl, a "woven-style" timber facade, and a fixed dome translucent roof. With a capacity of 23,000 seats, the stadium aims to provide an intimate yet grand atmosphere for fans, bringing them closer to the action on the field.
Premier @jeremyrockliff and Minister Nic Street have just posted more renders of the Macquarie Point Stadium design to their Facebook accounts.
The first two were released a few hours ago.
See below๐ https://t.co/FPfTWmU1gz pic.twitter.com/EjLnMNPThH
— Brent Costelloe (@brentcostelloe) July 6, 2024
"This investment is going to create thousands of jobs and generate billions of dollars for Tasmania," Premier Rockliff stated.
"We deserve what every other state in the country has, and that's what we're delivering."
The stadium's unique architectural elements, including the use of Tasmanian timber and a design influenced by First Nations artists, reflect a deep connection to the local culture and environment.
The "woven-style" facade will seamlessly blend into the surrounding "Aboriginal and culturally informed" zone, adding a distinctive touch to the stadium's appearance.
One of the standout features of the new stadium is its translucent ETFE roof, designed by German firm Schlaich Bergermann Partners. The innovative roof will allow natural light to filter through, supporting natural turf growth and eliminating the need for large light towers.
The stadium also boasts a 1,500-person function room with views of kunanyi/Mount Wellington, ensuring it will be a versatile venue for various events beyond AFL games.
Despite the excitement, the project has faced significant opposition from some locals concerned about its impact on the Hobart Cenotaph and the surrounding area.
The stadium's height, which at its peak reaches 51 meters, has been a particular point of contention. However, designers have attempted to address these concerns with a domed roof structure that reduces the height of the edges and a below-ground road for service vehicles to mitigate transport issues.
Tasmania Devils chairman Grant O'Brien emphasised the importance of the stadium for the club's future.
"We've said that a need for a stadium is to have somewhere to seat the people who want to come, something that's got the capacity to deal with the demand, and something that's going to provide us with the commercial returns that will allow us to be successful for all Tasmanians," O'Brien stated.
While the concept design has ignited excitement about Tasmania's future in the AFL, the project remains polarising.
The state government has committed $375 million to the project, with private backers expected to express interest in partnering on the development in the coming weeks. The formal planning process is set to begin soon, with construction anticipated to start late next year.
As Tasmania moves closer to joining the AFL, the new Macquarie Point stadium continues to draw complex debate about multifaceted nature of such a significant development. The Tasmania Devils remain set to join the National competition in 2028.
