AFL

Devils likely face three-year wait for new stadium

Mar 11, 2026

A digital render of the proposed Macquarie Point stadium in Hobart — The Tasmania Devils aren't expected to play at Macquarie Point stadium until their second year. -PR IMAGE

The Tasmania Devils will likely play their first three seasons at existing venues, with the contentious Macquarie Point stadium facing a slow-than-flagged completion.

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The $1.13 billion project was approved by parliament in December after an at-times bitter debate about whether it was in the best interests of the state.

Construction of the 23,000-seat waterfront stadium was a condition of the Devils being granted entry into the AFL and AFLW in 2028.

It had been flagged the club would play their initial season at Bellerive Oval and University of Tasmania Stadium and start playing at Macquarie Point in their second year.

However, Minister for Macquarie Point Urban Renewal Eric Abetz on Wednesday said the government was working towards having the venue ready for the 2031 season.

"Everybody would want the stadium finished yesterday if at all possible," he told reporters.

"Given the amount of government money ... the issues of probity which the parliament has quite rightly required - that does tend to slow things down.

"Rome wasn't built in a day and the Macquarie Point stadium won't be built in a day either."

Macquarie Point Development Corporation CEO Anne Beach told the ABC the aim was to finish the stadium by the end of 2030 and did not anticipate it would be ready until the 2031 season.

Reports compiled by the development corporation in late 2024 as part of the planning process referenced a 2029 completion date.

When asked in December if the stadium would be ready for 2029, Devils CEO Brendon Gale said there was an assumption the club would play at existing venues for the first two seasons.

Ms Beach said the development corporation was working to the timelines in the AFL deal that stipulate a 2028-30 delivery window.

"It's important for the delivery of the stadium that we don't just get it to practical completion but also make sure it's ready for play," Ms Beach said.

"There's things we need to allow time for and consider, like the laying of the turf and allowing time for that turf to be established."

The funding agreement between the state government and the AFL says the licence could be terminated if the stadium is not built by the end of 2030.

A rig has been set up to test the stadium's translucent roof material after Cricket Australia raised concerns its crosshatched design would create too much shadowing and create safety risks.

Cricket Tasmania CEO Dominic Baker has been confident a design, involving a matte layer, would solve the issue and said early test results were promising.