Tassie confident stadium delay won't hurt recruitment as Morris chooses Brisbane
Tasmania's $1.13 billion stadium won't be ready until 2031, but CEO says recruitment won't suffer.
Tasmania's Macquarie Point Stadium in Hobart won't be ready when the Devils' AFL and AFLW teams enter the league in 2028. The $1.13 billion venue is scheduled for 2031, meaning the team will split home games between Ninja Stadium in Hobart and UTAS Stadium in Launceston initially.
CEO Brendon Gale said the delay won't stop Tasmania from landing star players when they can recruit 18 uncontracted players across 2027 and 2028. CEO Gale pointed to a new high-performance centre being built as more important to athletes than a finished stadium.
The club is preparing to announce its first batch of signings soon. The confidence comes despite Logan Morris, a young Brisbane star, re-signing with the Lions on Tuesday despite Devils interest.
- 1.13 billion dollars
- Stadium cost
- 2031
- Stadium completion
- 2028
- League debut
- 9,000 square metres
- High-performance centre size
Why it mattersTasmania faces a critical recruitment window before its debut, and losing early targets to established clubs makes the stadium delay a concrete disadvantage.
AustraliaTasmania's ability to attract elite players to a new team is being tested immediately, with implications for the Devils' competitiveness in their first years.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 9 d ago
