Football Tasmania has welcomed government support for the state's 2023 Women's World Cup bid.
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Although Launceston is among 12 cities bidding to host matches, FIFA has made it clear that considerable investment would be needed to adapt UTAS Stadium - one of just two ovals being considered.
FT chief executive Matt Bulkeley was delighted when the Tasmanian government pledged $250,000 to begin the process which it expects to cost up to $50 million.
"That's pretty positive," Bulkeley said.
"We have met with the Premier and he clearly wants to have games here and is engaged with the idea of the women's World Cup.
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"This is an opportunity not to be missed."
In his budget speech on November 12, Premier and Treasurer Peter Gutwein said: "The Government has provided funding of $250,000 to the Launceston City Council to progress planning for the redevelopment of UTAS Stadium, to enable seating capacity to be increased and for the stadium to be ready to play a part in the 2023 Women's FIFA World Cup.
"This redevelopment is expected to require an investment of up to $50 million should it proceed, and further details will be provided in the New Year once the planning work has been undertaken."
In August, FT confirmed that any WC2023 matches in Tasmania will be at UTAS Stadium while the NTCA Ground, Churchill Park and Birch Avenue were potential training sites with Devonport Strikers' Valley Road headquarters and South Hobart's Wellesley Street training ground being looked at as possible base camps for a competing nation.
FT has since made a further presentation to FIFA and is seeking to bring A-League and W-League fixtures to UTAS Stadium.
"The A-League games show the ground is a viable venue, but we still need to move faster on addressing the shortcomings for WWC2023," Bulkeley added.