Ex-Wallaby jumps on stadium bandwagon
KEY figures in the sports and music industries are backing a new multipurpose stadium at Macquarie Point in Hobart, saying the city is missing out on world-class entertainment.
On Friday, Tasmanian-based former Wallaby Luke Burgess threw his support behind the stadium.
“When you build sports facilities, you build dream factories,” he said.
Burgess played 37 rugby union Tests for Australia and said it was his dream to see the Wallabies finally play a match in the state.
“Tasmanians love their sport and there are plenty of fans who would jump at the chance to see the Wallabies play in Tasmania,” he said.
“Union fans around Australia and around the world are really passionate and committed to following their team wherever they play. An international Test match would bring in thousands of visitors who may otherwise never come to Tasmania.”
Burgess’s comments came as tourism group Destination Southern Tasmania and music promoter Vandemonian also reinforced calls for a stadium, saying the city needs it to attract big music acts to the state.
“We know that Tasmania misses out on key music events
that would draw people in from the mainland and from the rest of the state,” Destination Southern Tasmania’s Alex Heroys said.
He said despite calls for a larger stadium, the proposed one was big enough.
“The business case stacks up in our opinion for about 30,000 standing for a stadium-style event,” Mr Heroys said.
“One of the significant problems we have is that at the moment
the only area we can put this sort of music act in is our greenfield sites, and to fill up the infrastructure that you need is incredibly expensive.”
Vandemonian managing director Brendan Self said Tasmania was often overlooked for international tours.
“The Botanical Gardens is a great outdoor venue, but as we learnt with Vance Joy, it is susceptible to inclement weather.’’ Mr
Self said. “MyState Bank Arena is a great venue for basketball, but is not designed for music events.
“We will never have a piece of land so well positioned for our own MCG as we do today. Build it and they will come, for all forms of entertainment.”
On Friday, Labor’s Treasury spokesman Shane Broad urged the state government to release the full cost benefit analysis of the stadium.