- New five-year deal, worth $3.8 million a year
- Hawks to play four Premiership season games at Aurora, plus a preseason match.
- No more cash bonuses for on-field success
- New deal to run from 2017 until 2021.
Hawthorn will continue playing in Launceston until at least 2021, with the state government signing a new, five year deal worth $3.8 million a season.
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The Hawks will play four regular season games at Aurora Stadium and one preseason match, but will no longer receive bonuses for on-field success.
Premier Will Hodgman said the new deal would be a massive boost to the North, and to the football community in the absence of a Tasmanian team.
"For this investment, the latest modelling shows the total value of the Hawks deal, including the direct economic impact of games, as well as national brand exposure, to be nearly $30 million per year," he said.
"While our ultimate goal is for Tasmania to have our own AFL team, given the position of the AFL this is clearly not achievable for the foreseeable future, which means renewal of the Hawks’ deal is the best outcome available at this time."
Mr Hodgman said the removal of the bonus payments would save the state budget up to $1 million a year.
He said the government would begin renegotiating a new deal with North Melbourne to play games in Hobart later this year or early next year.
Launceston Mayor Albert van Zetten described the new five-year agreement between the state government and the Hawthorn Football Club as a "fantastic outcome for Launceston".
"I'm delighted the Premier understands the importance of AFL in Northern Tasmania," Ald. van Zetten said.
"There can be no doubt that AFL games in Launceston have enormous positive impacts, economically and socially. AFL is a huge economic generator for the city and the region. Securing AFL in Launceston until 2021 is just a fantastic and extremely important result.
"This is a huge win for the city, for the region, and for Tasmania.
"My understanding is that negotiations will now continue with the AFL in regard to the rostering of teams, and we are hopeful of securing a tier-one side for the pre-season game, and at least two Melbourne-based sides for the four home-and-away games.''