Peter Gutwein,Premier
AFL football will return to Tasmania next season following the finalisation of new one-year agreements between the Tasmanian Government and the Hawthorn Football Club, and TT-Line and the North Melbourne Football Club.
The new agreements will see Hawthorn once again play four home games at UTAS Stadium in Launceston next season as well as a pre-season game, with North Melbourne to play four home games at Blundstone Arena in Hobart.
This is great news for Tasmanian AFL fans and also for our broader economy, with previous economic analysis confirming AFL games provide a significant economic return to the State of around 5:1.
In particular, the new agreements will be warmly welcomed by local hospitality venues and accommodation providers who will once again benefit from the increased trade as people travel and get out and about before and after the games.
This follows a history-making year for AFL in Tasmania that saw the State host 14 additional AFL games due to our COVID-safe status – including two elimination finals, for the first time in history.
And importantly, the one-year agreements will ensure Tasmanians don’t miss out on seeing AFL in the State next year while we await the final decision on a Tasmanian AFL licence.
