Overview
- Lawmakers approved the roofed Macquarie Point venue 9–5 after two days of debate, meeting the AFL licence condition for a 23,000‑seat stadium.
- The project is costed at $1.13 billion, funded by Tasmania (capped at $875 million), the federal government ($240 million) and the AFL ($15 million), with potential design changes or additional partners flagged if costs rise.
- MPDC plans an expression-of-interest process in January, a lead-contractor appointment in late 2026 and construction starting around May 2027, with a 2029 opening target now viewed as uncertain by club leaders.
- The licence includes milestone penalties of $4.5 million if the build is not half complete by October 2027 or not ready for Round 1, 2029.
- The Devils will enter the AFL/AFLW in 2028 and begin at Bellerive Oval and Launceston’s UTAS Stadium, while tenders for contaminated-soil excavation and the Goods Shed dismantling are being released.