A day after the AFL flagged the idea of sending some of its powerhouse teams to Tasmania in its dramatically different 2020 season, Premier Peter Gutwein has reiterated that having games played in empty stadiums is not something he is keen on.
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Again taking the league head-on, Gutwein made it clear he couldn't see a "great economical value in the AFL being played in the state in empty stadiums" in 2020.
Despite the fact it won't be happening any time soon due to Tasmania's strong border control measures, with no quarantine exemptions to be given to AFL teams despite Hawthorn and North Melbourne being contracted to play eight games in the state, Tasmania's potential part in the season is again in the spotlight after comments from AFL general manager of clubs and broadcasting Travis Auld on Monday when speaking about Essendon and Collingwood.
"You may even see - if we're able to get some games away in Tasmania - that those sort of teams will travel to Tasmania, which we haven't seen for some time, too,'' he said after the release of rounds two to five.
When asked about AFL matters on Tuesday, Gutwein said; "AFL being played in Tasmania in front of empty stadiums does not meet one of the key prerequisites as to why we initially set these arrangements up, and that is to drive economic value for the state.
"Having a team play in front of an empty stadium doesn't provide a great deal of economic value for Tasmania, but we will work our way through it. I, like many Tasmanians, would love to see AFL back in our state and would love to able to watch it, but we need to work through this sensibly and responsibly and be guided by public health advice."
Similar comments from Gutwein earlier this month were branded "very short-sighted and very selfish" by Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett on SEN radio.
The Hawks and the Roos are both reportedly keen to play their contracted games this season, with any matches set to be played at UTAS Stadium.
He said the government would need to understand "what the roster will look like and what the public health advice and border restrictions would be going forward before a game may be played in Tasmania".
Meanwhile, Gutwein also said there were a "couple of questions" that still needed to be answered before locking in when the redevelopment of the Derwent Entertainment Centre should start, with the government working with NBL owner and executive director Larry Kestelman on "final arrangements" and the "obligations" for each party.
A guarantee that Tasmania would have a team in 2021-22 would be vital.
"I think that would be the key thing that taxpayers would want to understand has been locked down and is going to ensure that if we are going to spend over $40 million on the DEC that at the end of the day we would have a team in the national league, and I am working through those matters with Mr Kestelman at the moment,'' Gutwein said.