The ambitious concept plan for a grandiose $500 million, 27,000-seat AFL stadium at Hobart's Macquarie Park looks fantastic.
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However, the latest dream idea that sent social media into a spin has quickly and rightly been knocked on the head by the state government, business groups, fans and the like. There has been a growing push from a minority to build a multi-purpose sports stadium down South as part of Tasmania's bid for a stand-alone AFL team.
It makes more logical sense to upgrade the infrastructure Tasmania has should the taskforce consider it necessary.
TIME TO DECIDE:
- Q&A: Chris Fagan on Tasmania's bid for an AFL team
- Tasmanian AFL team: Getting the economics right
- Footy pathway needs earlier start: Sanders
- Time for Tas to sever team ties, says former AFL boss
- Editorial: Now is the time to believe
- AFL bid is now or never
- Do you support a Tasmanian AFL team? Sign the pledge here
Spending half a billion dollars on a new stadium in a state that can't fund its own health system properly seems ridiculous when Bellerive Oval and UTAS Stadium already exist. Adding a new stand, a multi-storey car park and a state-of-the-art training base at one of the existing stadiums would be far cheaper and practical.
There is real momentum behind the push for a Tassie side in the 'national' league, but that can only be achieved with realistic expectations and goals. Tasmania is united for a team and there is belief it would succeed.
The only sticking point is where would the team be based - and that is the point not everyone is going to agree on.
Games would be split between North and South, but where the team would train and players live is open to argument.
Many people The Examiner speak to say that base should be in Launceston due to its central location - particularly the North-West - the ability to expand and access UTAS Stadium and the fact UTAS Stadium would provide a greater home ground advantage to the side.
A premise Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Michael Bailey and many other former AFL players and business leaders support.
"Our view is the focus should be on UTAS Stadium to be the centre," Bailey said.
"A good thing about York Park is that it's very easy to add extra stands to it, it's a precinct that has much better parking and access than Bellerive."
The opposition isn't parochial nonsense, it's common sense.