Major projects

Capital developments

As the driving force behind the development and optimisation of Tasmania’s major sporting and entertainment venues, Stadiums Tasmania has been appointed to fulfil the owner and client roles for Tasmanian government-funded and delivered capital upgrades for the State’s major venues. This includes:

• The $715 million Macquarie Point Multipurpose Stadium development project.
• The $130 million investment in UTAS Stadium.

Mac Point Stadium

Stadiums Tasmania is working closely with the Macquarie Point Development Corporation, the appointed project delivery agency, to support the Macquarie Point Multipurpose Stadium (Mac Point Stadium) development project.

As future owner and operator of the venue, Stadiums Tasmania led the development of a User Brief for the stadium and has been involved throughout the design process to ensure the User Brief requirements are being met.

The User Brief is an important front-end document that sets out the key needs and aspirations of the State, via Stadiums Tasmania, and the prospective users of the new Mac Point Stadium. Its purpose is to inform the Functional Design Brief and subsequent design development, including outlining:

• Potential user group requirements.
• Desired Stadiums Tasmania operational and commercial outcomes.
• Learnings from other stadium operators across Australia that will be relevant to the Mac Point Stadium.

Development of the User Brief was informed by extensive engagement of key prospective users including sporting, arts, cultural, entertainment and event stakeholders/organisations, with a particular focus on ensuring the User Brief reflected the desire for the stadium to be a truly multipurpose venue.

The User Brief was completed in May 2024.

Subsequently, Stadiums Tasmania has been actively engaged with the design process led by COX Architecture on behalf of the Macquarie Point Development Corporation.

Further details on this project can be found here.

UTAS Stadium

The Australian and Tasmanian governments have each committed $65 million to the redevelopment and upgrade of UTAS Stadium.

This redevelopment aims to attract national sporting and entertainment events to Launceston, supporting the City of Launceston’s vision to make the city a premier business, retail and lifestyle hub.

In addition to the new eastern stand and plaza entry, the upgrade of the stadium will include a new centre-west stand, an upgrade to match day facilities, sports lighting upgrades and replacing the LED ribbon board.

The redevelopment will also include new corporate and hospitality facilities, food and beverage outlets and patron amenities on the eastern and western side of the stadium, along with improved facilities for users.

The scope of works for this exciting project has been developed with key stakeholders, including the City of Launceston. This has helped to identify and prioritise works that will enhance the venue and help secure its future.

Stadiums Tasmania is an active participant in the overall planning for the UTAS Stadium redevelopment project, including having representation across all key governance committees and project groups.

Importantly, Stadiums Tasmania has worked closely with UTAS Stadium tenants to minimise the operational impacts during the redevelopment period. This has included working with the Hawthorn Football Club and the AFL to ensure 2025 AFL regular season matches are able to proceed and the North Melbourne Football Club to ensure AFLW events can be played in 2024. Stadiums Tasmania has also engaged Cricket Tasmania to ensure WBBL and BBL events are still able to be hosted at UTAS Stadium during the redevelopment period.

The overall program for the project anticipates redevelopment works will commence in late 2024, with an estimated completion date of early 2027.

Further details on this project can be found here.