Launceston AFL games best for tourism, industry head says

A long-awaited business case report from the Tasmanian AFL Taskforce was released by the government on Friday after its details were leaked the day before to some media organisations.

Mr Martin said the best outcome for the state would be for Launceston to host blockbuster matches.

"The key point we wanted to see happen was a recognition that AFL football is fundamentally important to Northern Tasmania," he said.

"From a tourism perspective, the best return from AFL football is in the north of the state.

"We want to see Launceston's role in AFL football enhanced under a Tasmanian team."

Mr Martin said the five AFL games played each year in Launceston created around $30 million worth of economic stimulus for the state.

Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Michael Bailey believed the state could easily surpass the 35,000 membership figure to make a state club viable.

He said a club would create long-term employment opportunities.

Greens leader Cassy O'Connor said it was encouraging the report found a Tasmanian AFL or AFLW team would be economically viable and would result in a budget saving relative to the cost of the current sponsorship deals with Hawthorn and North Melbourne.

"Rather than sending money interstate to entice big Melbourne clubs to visit, we could be investing into the community and cultivating our fantastic home grown talent," she said.

Labor's sport spokesman David O'Byrne said the party had offered bipartisan support for the AFL taskforce.

"But [we] were disappointed today at the rushed nature of the government's announcement, particularly when the report was received in December last year," he said.

City of Launceston mayor Albert van Zetten said the council was excited by the report's recommendations and potential outcomes.

"I'm particularly excited at the prospect of an expansion at University of Tasmania Stadium, bringing it up to 30,000 seating capacity," he said.

"That's fantastic news for football fans across Northern Tasmania - and all of the state.

"The potential to host blockbuster games in Launceston against the likes of Collingwood, Essendon and Richmond is something we should be all excited about."