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UTAS Stadium Upgrade

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kranger said:
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I think the plans have changed since this document was released two years ago. Instead of a 2 stage redevelopment, it is now 3. I also suspect that the upgraded capacity of UTAS will be slightly less than the 27.5k that was originally mooted. I’d hazard a guess that the 3 stages will now look like this:

Stage 1 - Eastern Grandstand
Stage 2 - Northern and Southern stands
Stage 3 - high performance facility + indoor, court stadium for Northern Jack Jumpers games etc.
 
Cunnington Cartel said:
I think the plans have changed since this document was released two years ago. Instead of a 2 stage redevelopment, it is now 3. I also suspect that the upgraded capacity of UTAS will be slightly less than the 27.5k that was originally mooted. I’d hazard a guess that the 3 stages will now look like this:

Stage 1 - Eastern Grandstand
Stage 2 - Northern and Southern stands
Stage 3 - high performance facility + indoor, court stadium for Northern Jack Jumpers games etc.
Click to expand...

It would be good if someone could find the latest plans and stages and share it.
 
kranger said:
It would be good if someone could find the latest plans and stages and share it.
Click to expand...

Just heard an interview with the Tassie Sport & Rec minister and he practically confirmed what I had suggested previously:

Stage 1 - Eastern grandstand $65m. Fully funded by state government so definitely going ahead.

* Stage 1 is referred to in the article shared by The Victorian.

Stage 2 - Further upgrades to UTAS Stadium (would have to be building new Northern and Southern stands in place of the current terraces) $65m. To be federally funded. Funding request for this stage submitted to the feds, contingent on $240m of federal funding for Mac Point and subsequent announcement AFL license.

Stage 3 - Indoor facility out the back of UTAS Stadium so Jack Jumpers games can be held regularly in Launceston. $70m - unsure of the funding split at this stage.
 

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www.abc.net.au

One down, one to go: Albanese begins stadium cash splash tour of Tasmania

Anthony Albanese stands beside Tasmania's Liberal premier to make the first of two stadium funding announcements — fending off criticism he is diverting funds away from housing and health considerations.
www.abc.net.au www.abc.net.au

A day before an expected announcement of $240 million for a stadium at Hobart's Macquarie Point, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has put in $65 million for an upgrade for Launceston's York Park.

The Tasmanian government has also promised $65 million to upgrade York Park's eastern stand and other amenities.
 
If the white elephant gets built, just bulldoze the stands at York Park and save maintenance costs. There won't be any meaningful games in the north, just the dregs against low drawing teams, therefore no crowds. North Launceston don't need anything more than 1000 capacity. If the stadium goes ahead in Hobart, the team inevitably becomes a Hobart team; just play all games there.
 
Howard Littlejohn said:
If the white elephant gets built, just bulldoze the stands at York Park and save maintenance costs. There won't be any meaningful games in the north, just the dregs against low drawing teams, therefore no crowds. North Launceston don't need anything more than 1000 capacity. If the stadium goes ahead in Hobart, the team inevitably becomes a Hobart team; just play all games there.
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Yeah, sure thing mate. You’re either looking for a rise out of people or you genuinely have no idea about the historical, cultural and demographic factors at play in Tasmania.
 
Cunnington Cartel said:
Yeah, sure thing mate. You’re either looking for a rise out of people or you genuinely have no idea about the historical, cultural and demographic factors at play in Tasmania.
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If the stadium and team goes ahead, Launceston will only get the trash games. The AFL will make sure any decent drawing games are in Hobart. It won't take long for the north to abandon the team if they're getting a worse set of games than they do now, and the team starts being seen as a southern plaything.

Cheaper and quicker to just call it a Hobart team, play all games in Hobart, demolish the stands at York Park, and not go ahead with a second white elephant.
 
Howard Littlejohn said:
If the stadium and team goes ahead, Launceston will only get the trash games. The AFL will make sure any decent drawing games are in Hobart. It won't take long for the north to abandon the team if they're getting a worse set of games than they do now, and the team starts being seen as a southern plaything.

Cheaper and quicker to just call it a Hobart team, play all games in Hobart, demolish the stands at York Park, and not go ahead with a second white elephant.
Click to expand...

If that transpires then it would be up there with one of the dumbest things the AFL has ever done. Support from the entire state is necessary to make the club viable so alienating half of Tasmania by following your suggestion would be totally counterproductive. Fortunately, the powers that be realise this, so everything so far from the business case to the Carter Review, statements from Rockliff and Gill have all emphasised that it will be a team for all Tasmanians. The most commonly cited breakdown of games is Hobart 7 and Launceston 4, with Penguin to host a pre-season game each year.
 
Howard Littlejohn said:
If the stadium and team goes ahead, Launceston will only get the trash games. The AFL will make sure any decent drawing games are in Hobart. It won't take long for the north to abandon the team if they're getting a worse set of games than they do now, and the team starts being seen as a southern plaything.

Cheaper and quicker to just call it a Hobart team, play all games in Hobart, demolish the stands at York Park, and not go ahead with a second white elephant.
Click to expand...
How petty are the people of 'the North' if they just abandoned the team because they are so unlucky to finally have their own team and have to watch Tas v GC at their own stadium lol. Every supporter has had to watch their team play lower drawing teams. The people of Launceston should sell the stadium out every home game
 
Howard Littlejohn said:
If the stadium and team goes ahead, Launceston will only get the trash games. The AFL will make sure any decent drawing games are in Hobart. It won't take long for the north to abandon the team if they're getting a worse set of games than they do now, and the team starts being seen as a southern plaything.

Cheaper and quicker to just call it a Hobart team, play all games in Hobart, demolish the stands at York Park, and not go ahead with a second white elephant.
Click to expand...
And that will lead to problems like what St George Illawarra and the Wests Tigers got with attendances until last year in the case of the latter with favoring one of the two bases or even a third stadium (in Wests case, CommBank Stadium from 2019 until last year, previously it was what is now known as Accor Stadium). Both sides of the venture now get minimum two big games (derbies, other local rivalries across Sydney, etc) across their two bases (Wollongong and Kogarah and Leichhardt and Campbelltown respectively). Hopefully the AFL fixture minimum two big games in Launceston for the Tasmanian side as well as Hobart
 
UTAS finals plans released. Only upgrading less than half of the eastern side, but a new western stand that will house media & corporates - will be the best seats in the house. Amenities upgrade and new eastern entrance. Some new seats in front of Gunns stand. Capacity not listed anywhere but I reckon around 22k - 23k. Works start end of this season. Ready for 2027.
1707174639916.jpeg
1707174665389.jpeg
 

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Walshawk said:
UTAS finals plans released. Only upgrading less than half of the eastern side, but a new western stand that will house media & corporates - will be the best seats in the house. Amenities upgrade and new eastern entrance. Some new seats in front of Gunns stand. Capacity not listed anywhere but I reckon around 22k - 23k. Works start end of this season. Ready for 2027.
View attachment 1899537
View attachment 1899538
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17k apparently.
Spending an incredibly unaffordable expected $300-350m on a capoacity downgrade. Quite an amazing cash waste, even by Tas standards.
 
Howard Littlejohn said:
17k apparently.
Spending an incredibly unaffordable expected $300-350m on a capoacity downgrade. Quite an amazing cash waste, even by Tas standards.
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UTAS Stadium's official capacity has reached as high as 19,500, with its record crowd being 20,971 for an AFL game in 2006, the capacity has since been revised down to 15,615 as of 2024, after Stadiums Tasmania, in conjunction with architects Populous and the City of Launceston, applied the Green Guide regulations to UTAS Stadium (The Green Guide is an internationally recognised document offering best practices for planning, designing, managing, and operating sports grounds and stadia). The revised capacity includes seating for 13,106 spectators and 14,871 total viewing positions.

So on the bright side, the capacity will officially increase to around 17,600 once the latest round of redevelopments are completed.

A link to the Green Guide
 
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Howard Littlejohn said:
If the stadium and team goes ahead, Launceston will only get the trash games. The AFL will make sure any decent drawing games are in Hobart. It won't take long for the north to abandon the team if they're getting a worse set of games than they do now, and the team starts being seen as a southern plaything.

Cheaper and quicker to just call it a Hobart team, play all games in Hobart, demolish the stands at York Park, and not go ahead with a second white elephant.
Click to expand...
We (and Freo) have a few thousand members who literally drive to Perth for most home games from places like Bunbury and Geraldton etc...I'm sure a lot Tasmanians won't be so angry at maybe a little road trip (much smaller distances than over here) down to Hobart from time to time for "big" games
 

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www.premier.tas.gov.au

Major milestone for UTAS Stadium redevelopment as main works commence

www.premier.tas.gov.au www.premier.tas.gov.au

It is jointly funded with $65 million each from the Australian and Tasmanian Governments.

Construction will be undertaken by Tasmanian firm Fairbrother Pty Ltd.

The Main Works package includes:

  • New Centre West Stand – featuring premium seating, corporate function spaces, media facilities, and refurbished player change rooms. Completion is scheduled for October 2027.
  • Redeveloped Eastern Stand – delivering 3,629 new seats with modern food, beverage, and toilet amenities. Completion expected by March 2027.
  • Western Stand Infill Seating – adding a new Level 1 grandstand with improved fan proximity and 45 accessible seats. Completion due by September 2026.
  • Southern Patron Amenities – including a Changing Places facility and upgraded male and female toilets.

Demolition of the existing Centre West Stand will begin the week commencing 15 September 2025.

Venue capacity will be temporarily reduced to approximately 9,000 during the 2026 AFL season, increasing to around 17,000 in 2027 as new seating areas come online.
 

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UTAS Stadium Upgrade

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