Tasmania’s AFL team, the Devils, is facing an uncertain future as political instability and ballooning stadium costs threaten the project’s viability. The proposed Macquarie Point Stadium in Hobart, initially budgeted at \$715 million, is now projected to cost \$945 million, with some estimates pushing that figure as high as \$1.1 billion.
The stadium has become a political flashpoint, with Premier Jeremy Rockliff insisting it is essential to Tasmania’s AFL licence. Without it, he warns, the team’s inclusion in the league will not go ahead. However, pressure is mounting on the government as it faces a no-confidence motion and the possibility of early elections, casting further doubt over the project’s future.
Critics, including opposition parties and key independents, have raised concerns about cost blowouts and transparency, arguing the funds could be better spent elsewhere. Meanwhile, public support has wavered amid growing scrutiny of the project’s long-term value.
Despite the turbulence, the Devils’ CEO Brendon Gale remains optimistic, saying the team is progressing as planned and highlighting the potential economic and social benefits of the stadium for Tasmania.
The AFL has made the stadium’s completion by 2029 a condition for the Devils’ entry into the competition in 2028. Public consultation on the stadium’s enabling legislation remains open until June 16, 2025.
The coming weeks will be critical in determining whether Tasmania’s long-awaited AFL dream becomes a reality — or is shelved indefinitely due to political and financial headwinds.
