New entity to manage Tasmanian stadiums and investigate roof options
A new entity, to be known as Stadiums Tasmania, will be created to manage the state’s major venues, while also investigating the feasibility of adding a roof to one of them.
Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein said on Monday that discussions have commenced with the City of Launceston and the Clarence City Council regarding the transfer of Blundstone Arena and UTAS Stadium to be owned, managed, and developed by the new entity.
Mr Gutwein said the new entity would oversee not only Blundstone Arena and UTAS Stadium, but other state-owned assets such as Launceston’s Silverdome and the Derwent Entertainment Centre (now known as MyState Bank Arena) which is currently being redeveloped ahead of the JackJumpers entry into the NBL later this year.
“This will ensure that Stadiums Tasmania is responsible for the management of stadium assets into the future, including revenues and expenditures, with capacity to borrow funds for stadium upgrades and developments,” he said.
“We strongly believe Tasmania deserves to have its own Tasmanian teams in national competitions, and this will allow us to stay ahead of the curve and deliver the sporting infrastructure our state needs.”
The Premier said the creation of the new entity would allow the State to better invest in contemporary facilities that will enable Tasmania to secure national and international events into the future, including the upgrade of UTAS Stadium.
The proposed $208 million redevelopment of UTAS Stadium was announced in February and would boost the stadium's seating capacity to 27,500 as well as the construction of a new 5,000-seat indoor arena.
He also said the possibility of a roofed stadium would be investigated at one of the two major outdoor venues.
“We were very clear in our policy in the election that Stadiums Tasmania would look at our current stadiums to see whether or not a roof might be possible,” Mr Gutwein said.
