Question - UTAS Stadium - Classification

Thursday 5 June 2025

Ms ARMITAGE question to MINISTER for SPORT and EVENTS, Mr DUIGAN

[2.39 p.m.]

Can you confirm that with recent developments at UTAS Stadium, which has actually resulted in a reduction of capacity, that the stadium is now classified as Tier 2? If this is the case, can you advise of the restrictions to a Tier 2 stadium?

ANSWER

Mr President, I note that there has been in past times some conversation and in my view, misreporting, about works and developments at UTAS Stadium. The first point I would make is that the most recent works at UTAS Stadium had no impact on capacity. They were about delivering new match-day facilities for players, officials, including umpires, and change rooms and visitor amenities, and really great visitor and home team change rooms and warm-ups and medical facilities. We had really fantastic feedback from the Hawthorn footy team in the wake of those redevelopments. They were done ahead of time and on budget, so that was great. I had heard people saying things like they were better than the MCG. Very happy to have those improvements done. So, again, matchday facilities.

The remaining planned redevelopments that are due to commence later this year will include a new Eastern Stand and south-east entry plaza. On the eastern side of the ground, the new Centre-West Stand provides new home-team change rooms, media and broadcasting facilities, and corporate hospitality facilities on the western side, new infield boundary seating to the existing Western Stand, a series of minor works to enhance spectator experience, commercial yield and operational efficiency. The entertainment precinct will also include improved food and beverage facilities, as well as new spectator and visitor amenities, and make it a better overall experience and atmosphere for the new stadium.

The member asked specifically around the seating capacity. The key to remember here is that this redevelopment -

Ms Armitage - Through you, Mr President, I know what the seating capacity is. I am asking whether it is now a Tier 2 or a Tier 1 stadium. Has it been reclassified as Tier 2 or is it still Tier 1?

Mr DUIGAN - I am told that the stadium is classified as a Tier 2 venue as per the 2025 AFL guidelines. There are no specific capacity restrictions imposed by Sporting Code Tier 2 recommendations. The capacity of Tier 2 AFL venues, as an example, varies from approximately 48,000 at the SCG to 17,600 post-redevelopment at UTAS. So it is a Tier 2 venue.

Ms Armitage - Thanks. Through you, Mr President, the restrictions on Tier 2 as opposed to a Tier 1? Fewer games?

Mr DUIGAN - No.

Ms Armitage - So, it is just what it has?

Mr DUIGAN - It is around the level of facility at the venue. The new Macquarie Point venue would be, as I understand it, a Tier 1 stadium. The MCG is a Tier 1. UTAS Stadium is a Tier 2. Bellerive Oval/Ninja Stadium, Tier 2.

Ms O'Connor - As you can understand, through you, Mr President -

Mr PRESIDENT - Is this a supplementary?

Ms Armitage - My concern is Launceston Tier 2, Macquarie Point Tier 1.

Mr DUIGAN - Macquarie Point will be the newest stadium in the world.