Tasmania Congratulations on Tassie License. Mens team to enter 2028. Womens team TBA. Other details TBA 3/5

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ash_1050

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GO TO PART 2 of this thread:




Was going to draft up a Summary but this is pretty good.


The Presidents
  • Opposed: Gold Coast, Collingwood, Sydney and Hawthorn.
  • Supportive: Geelong, Richmond, West Coast, Fremantle, Adelaide, Port Adelaide, North Melbourne.
  • Unknown: St. Kilda, Carlton, Brisbane, GWS, Melbourne, Essendon, Western Bulldogs.
Technically, Tasmania only needs seven votes to get in if the AFL commission give the nod, but McLachlan wants a majority and would love unanimous support in an ideal world. Each club’s position is far from set in stone (aside from Gold Coast’s chair Tony Cochrane, but there is even belief Tasmania’s harshest critic – and the league’s biggest benefactor of handouts – can be swayed when the right levers are pulled), with all waiting to see the final proposal. Hawk’s president Jeff Kennett is on the way out (however not until after next month’s vote) and the new president, Peter Nankivell is a supporter and said it would be a board decision, not just Jeff’s.

Note: The Leagues constitution requires only that the clubs vote to veto the decision, requiring a 2/3rds majority to overturn the leagues decision.

View attachment 1450319

The Offer

The Tasmanian Government has put an offer of $10 million a season for 10 years towards operational costs plus $50 million for a high performance centre on the table. When in Hobart last month for his first face-to-face meeting with Premier Jeremy Rockliff, McLachlan described this as a “strong start”. The negotiations are ongoing with a thought it might not be a bigger monetary commitment each year, but a longer commitment, something along the lines of $10m a year for 15 years.

The Stadium

In the meeting with Rockliff, McLachlan said a new stadium – first mooted by the Tasmanian Government – was contingent on the state landing a licence. It has become a sticking point, with the state opposition coming out against it but its position is based on if Tasmania had to pick up the entire bill, roughly in the $750m range. However, the AFL is only seeking a commitment on the stadium, not shovels in the ground or even for it to be fully funded before the August vote. The Government has allocated $1.5m in the latest budget for a multipurpose stadium feasibility study to be completed sometime next year. The AFL has also offered its own stadium expertise to not only help secure the cash required but to find an ideal location and how much it would cost to build. Historically, stadiums across the country have been roughly two-thirds federal funding, one third state (with the possibility of some private investment helping out as well). Plus it would be hard for the state Labor opposition to oppose the stadium if the AFL was able to secure funding from the new Federal Labor Government.

Location

The Government has waxed and waned internally between Macquarie Point and Regatta Point. Macquarie Point had its nose in front but it is understood there would be not enough space for what the Government wants to do there plus a multipurpose stadium, so it appears if the Regatta Point site on partially reclaimed land and right on the waterfront is back as the No.1 venue. It would also activate that entire area on the River Derwent from Macquarie Point right round to Regatta Point with access to ferries, the northern transport corridor and still within walking distance of the Hobart CBD.

Broadcast deal

A 19TH team can actually be a revenue creator for the AFL and its existing clubs, even if there are less games per round. The AFL is currently deep in broadcast negotiations for the next deal with a number of free to air, pay television and streaming services. It is understood these negotiations contain a number of scenarios with or without a 19th team. One hypothetical scenario that would benefit the league and broadcasters is the flexibility expansion can bring, potentially bringing new players to the table. For example, it might be eight instead of nine games a round, with three teams having a bye, but more rounds during the season. It would allow teams coming off the bye to play a Thursday night, with a game on Friday night, three on Saturday and three on Sunday, ridding the need for overlap of games as is currently the situation. For broadcasters, Channel 7 might own the Thursday night, Friday night and Sunday afternoon slots, allowing the AFL to sell Saturday night to Network 10 (as an example), with Foxtel screening every game on its dedicated FoxFooty station like it does presently. Bringing a second free to air broadcaster to the table instantly pays for a 19th licence, while clubs playing something like four every five weeks would satisfy the AFLPA seeking another break for its members and theoretically reduce the injury toll, allowing the best players to play more often.

High Performance Centre

For the players and staff, a new, state of the art high performance centre is just as important for retention as a new stadium. The state government has already pledged $50m to establish a training base in Hobart with the three options believed to be Cornelian Bay, Sandy Bay’s UTas sports grounds (pending the university’s relocation to the city) and the Domain near the TCA Ground.

Talent and List Build

The AFL is already working on a way to make the Tasmanian team competitive much faster than the Suns and the Giants, who endured years of pain before gaining enough experience to compete, while current clubs do not want to be shut-out from the top end of the draft for years on end as what happened during the most recent expansions. A Tasmanian team would be given similar draft access, but told they must be traded for experienced players, allowing clubs to re-enter the draft at a higher level, but giving Tasmania experienced talent. Obviously the better the player the existing clubs offer to Tasmania, the higher they can re-enter the draft, meaning a win for both sides. A reduction of list sizes has already been mooted, potentially freeing up a number of players and reducing costs for clubs.

The CEO

For the first time, Tasmania feels like the AFL, led by Gillon McLachlan, is leading the charge. The state has put a lot of trust in McLachlan that he will lead Tasmania to the Promised Land, trust it desperately hopes will not be burnt. The outgoing CEO has stated publicly he wants an answer on the “Tasmania question” and privately wants a positive one for the state as his final legacy.

Whats in it for Tasmania

The Taskforce business case, reviewed and approved by former AFL commission and ex-Geelong boss Colin Carter, state’s Tasmania’s investment in an AFL team will return $110m annually of economic stimulus as well as creating 360 jobs via tourism and hospitality. It also has the potential of rekindling the state’s passion for the sport which has waned in recent years, and unifying Tasmania just as the JackJumpers did so impressible in their inaugural NBL season, but on a much larger scale. There’s also the chance to land a brand new multipurpose stadium on Hobart’s waterfront on the edge of the CBD, capable of hosting large scale concerts, conferences and festivals – such as an expanded Dark Mofo – as well as numerous sports.

If its a No

Jump on the JackJumpers, as if Tasmania does not get an AFL licence this time it never will. The code in one of the original four heartland Australian rules states will never be the same again here and will continue to whither under the watch of the AFL – the “custodians of the game.”

Current Score

Tasmania was well in front at half time and appeared set to cruise into the league, before the opposition, led by Cochrane and a small group of other presidents, rallied loud and hard. However, just recently the push has regained some momentum. Tasmania has its nose in front with the final siren just about to blow, but it is not across the line yet.


Reports
Hobart Arts Entertainment and Sports Precinct – Business Case


Appendices:

  1. Macquarie Point Stadium – Tasmanian Arts, Entertainment and Sports Precinct – Liminal Studio Pty Ltd
  2. Hobart Stadium – Site Selection Process Report – MCS Management and Consulting in conjunction with Philp Lighton Architects
  3. Pre-Feasibility Study for Regatta Point and Macquarie Point Sites – Aurecon
  4. Hobart Stadium Economic Impact of new Arts, Entertainment and Sports Precinct - PwC
  5. Macquarie Point Estimating the economic contribution of commercial uses at the new arts, entertainment and sports precinct – PwC
  6. Hobart Stadium Capacity Optimisation Analysis – MI Global Partners
  7. Hobart Stadium Cost Benefit Analysis Report - MI Global Partners

 
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Issues with attracting marquee type players and general retention will suck too.

Move Gold Coast there and kill two birds with one stone
 

TheKITC

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Heart: Would love to see a team in Tasmania. They have a rich history in our game.

Head: Seems barely feasible. Small market. Launceston people won't support a Hobart team and vice versa. Who is going to want to play and more importantly, stay there outside of locals? Sponsorship? Crowds?
 
I'm all for it so long as they get rid of one of the pleb Victorian clubs.

Hard no otherwise

But if they did that, who would pay for your club?
 
Apr 24, 2018
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Heart: Would love to see a team in Tasmania. They have a rich history in our game.

Head: Seems barely feasible. Small market. Launceston people won't support a Hobart team and vice versa. Who is going to want to play and more importantly, stay there outside of locals? Sponsorship? Crowds?
Well seing as it’s effectively the Tasmanian state government that are the ones applying for the license I would say it would be far more financially viable and stable then gws and the suns will ever be the team would be based in Hobart and split home games between north and south it’s not rocket science 👍
 

TheKITC

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Well seing as it’s effectively the Tasmanian state government that are the ones applying for the license I would say it would be far more financially viable and stable then gws and the suns will ever be the team would be based in Hobart and split home games between north and south it’s not rocket science 👍

I take those points completely and think it's great that the government is backing it. Does that continue in perpetuity? I also have serious reservations about a team being based in Hobart being fully supported and embraced by those in the 'North' from my understanding of the local mechanisms and nuances of Tassie society/life.

Still think retention and attracting players will be a massive and on going challenge. Yes, it is one we've seen in the northern states, but they are bigger markets (why the AFL has and will continue to back them) and in more attractive locations. I personally think Tassie is lovely, but I would not want to live there and would probably need to be offered significant overs (like double+++) to move there for my career.
 

banzai

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Heart: Would love to see a team in Tasmania. They have a rich history in our game.

Head: Seems barely feasible. Small market. Launceston people won't support a Hobart team and vice versa. Who is going to want to play and more importantly, stay there outside of locals? Sponsorship? Crowds?

It didnt seem a problem when Hobart played a bigbash game in Launceston, they seemed to support the team fine then. They would obviously have to play games at both venues.
 
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Pros:
A well deserved team in Tassie.

A sick name and logo.

19 teams means a bye every week BUT probably means it's easier to fixture Thursday night games, so Thursday night games every week.

Hawks getting the hell out of there meaning more games in Melbourne.

Seems like a confident business plan in that article.



Cons:
I'm sure there are a few, but the pros are absolutely winning. Let's make this happen!



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I'm all for it so long as they get rid of one of the pleb Victorian clubs.

Hard no otherwise
*cough* North Melbourne who already have an established women's team branded as Tasmania, play several senior games each year there and have a smaller membership-base relative to the rest of the Victorian teams *cough*
 
Sep 8, 2010
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Surely the team would be "Tasmania" and play home games in both Hobart and Launceston.
Would be successful as a 1 team state - 65% of Tassie's population are descendants of the first 10,000 people that settled there (obviously not including indigenous people) and Tasmania's population growth is more rapid than expected - they are on track to reach a population of 650k a decade earlier than what was forecast (2050) - the support and history has obviously always been there - I reckon it'd be a solid/reliable source of income for the league, not having to rely on on field success like in the expansion states.
 
Jul 13, 2015
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Not going to happen. The AFL will give the expansion sides as much money as they need to keep them afloat for the forseeable future.

Until Ch 9 and Ch 10 stopp bidding and Ch 7 halves their offer.

Then Foxtel picks up 7 games a week exclusive and hundreds of thousands walk away from the sport.
 
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