However, no guarantee has been made that the venue will host all blockbuster matches in the team's opening seasons, as was initially laid out in a 2020 report.

A recommendation of the Tasmanian AFL Taskforce report was for an upgraded UTAS Stadium to host high-drawing Melbourne clubs for "five to seven years" until a Macquarie Point stadium was developed.

Since the report was issued, Tasmania's earliest entry date has been pushed back from 2025 to 2027, and the Macquarie Point stadium, which hangs on securing $240 million in federal funding, has been slated to open in late 2028.

The new timeline leaves two years for Tasmanian home games to be split between UTAS Stadium and Bellerive Oval.

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While plans for Launceston to host all blockbusters in this period have not changed, it is understood the AFL would have the final say on scheduling, and therefore the split of blockbuster games at each ground.

Nevertheless, the comparative capacity crowds of an upgraded UTAS Stadium (27,500) and Bellerive Oval (about 20,000) appear to leave the Launceston venue well-placed to secure drawcard fixtures.

A state government spokesperson confirmed work was still being done to secure federal funding for UTAS Stadium's $208 million upgrade.

The state government is asking its federal counterpart to match a $65 million commitment to the first stage of the project, which would see two stands redeveloped and allow for rectangular configuration.

"The Rockliff Liberal government is absolutely committed to the UTAS Stadium upgrade and we have already committed $65 million towards the first stage," the spokesperson said.

"We remain in discussions with the federal government around their contribution and look forward to them seeing the benefits and jumping onboard."

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