Tasmania is standing at a once-in-a-lifetime crossroads, and the direction it takes will define its sporting, economic and cultural landscape for decades to come.
At the centre of the debate lies Macquarie Point Stadium, a project that has stirred both passionate support and fierce opposition across the state. But amidst all the noise, one thing remains unshakably clear: Tasmania simply cannot afford not to build it.
For better or worse, this stadium is the golden key to Tasmania’s AFL dream. Without a modern, enclosed stadium at Mac Point, there will be no AFL or AFLW team. The AFL has made that requirement non-negotiable. All the goodwill in the world, all the petitions, all the community rallies—none of it will change the cold, commercial reality that no stadium means no licence.
And if that opportunity slips away, it may never return.
Beyond footy, this is about more than just sport. It’s about economic momentum. Recent modelling suggests the stadium, with its now-iconic timber roof, could inject nearly $180 million into the economy every year, delivering thousands of jobs in both construction and ongoing operations, and generating tourism dollars that would otherwise be lost to the mainland.
Tasmania has long cried out for major events—music, sport, festivals—that attract visitors and fill hotel rooms. But without the infrastructure, they go elsewhere. The Mac Point precinct, once a derelict and largely unused eyesore, has the potential to become Hobart’s beating heart: a thriving waterfront hub of entertainment, business, and lifestyle that finally puts Tasmania on the national stage.
The cost, of course, has become the lightning rod. Original estimates of around $715 million have now ballooned past $940 million, with some projections warning that total debt over time could exceed $1.8 billion.
Critics are right to be concerned about this, especially with fears of a potential credit rating downgrade and pressure on public services.
No one wants this to become Tasmania’s version of a white elephant. But neither should that risk paralyse progress. The right response is not to abandon the vision, but to sharpen it. The government must exercise iron-clad discipline—stick to the design-and-construct model, cap state contributions, demand private sector accountability, and lock down every cent that isn’t absolutely essential.
Matthew Richardson poses with The Tasmania Devils inaugural jumper during the Tasmania Football Club Launch. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
The federal government has already committed $240 million, and state contributions are capped at $375 million. The remainder can and should be found through private investment, which remains strong so long as the government holds the line.
Pulling the plug now would not only cost Tasmania its AFL future, it would rattle investor confidence, damage the state’s reputation for major projects, and leave the Macquarie Point site in development limbo—again.
Hobart doesn’t need another decade of debates, reports and regrets. It needs action. It needs vision. And most of all, it needs courage.
Opponents argue that Tasmania has bigger priorities—health, housing, education. They’re not wrong. But leadership isn’t about choosing between the present and the future; it’s about finding a way to deliver both.
Infrastructure projects create jobs and economic activity that help fund the very services people are worried about. Done right, this stadium won’t drain the state—it will drive it.
So yes, the risks are real. But the risks of doing nothing are even greater. Mac Point Stadium isn’t just a sports venue. It’s a symbol. A statement. A long-overdue investment in Tasmania’s place in the national conversation.
The moment is now. And if Tasmania lets it pass, it may never come again.
