Macquarie Point Stadium


Macquarie Point Stadium is a multi-purpose domed stadium to be constructed at Macquarie Point in Hobart, the capital city of Tasmania, Australia. The site is situated on prominent waterfront land between Hobart's historic port precinct and the city's primary northern arterial route. The stadium forms part of an agreement between the Tasmanian Government and the Australian Football League to establish a Tasmanian-based AFL team. Construction is expected to commence in 2026, with the venue projected to open in 2029 as the primary home ground of the Tasmania Football Club and cricket team the Hobart Hurricanes. The stadium is likely to host other sports such as rugby league, rugby union and soccer. The stadium will have a reported construction cost of $1.13 billion AUD and is scheduled to begin construction in 2026 or 2027.

AFL deal and site selection

The original proposal for a new AFL stadium in Hobart was announced by Premier Peter Gutwein during his March 2022 State of the State address, positioning it as a key requirement in securing a Tasmanian-based Australian Football League team. However, in a 2023 interview with ABC News, Gutwein stated there was no pressure from the AFL to build a stadium.
Gutwein's proposal located the stadium at Regatta Point with a $750 million price tag, and envisioned a venue with a retractable roof, permanent seating for 27,000 spectators, and a total capacity of 30,000 for major events and concerts.
The proposal to construct a stadium at Macquarie Point emerged from negotiations between the AFL and the Tasmanian Government as part of the establishment of a Tasmanian AFL team. In 2022, the AFL agreed to work with the state on a model for a team, with the expectation that it would include the development of a new stadium.
The Tasmanian Government subsequently commissioned a site selection study. The primary sites considered were Regatta Point and Macquarie Point, with Macquarie Point confirmed as the preferred location in September 2022.
AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan formally announced the team's admission to the AFL at North Hobart Oval on 3 May 2023, with the men's team joining the Australian Football League from its 2028 season, and the timeline for its AFL Women's team to be developed later. On the same day, the Tasmanian Government signed a Club Funding and Development Agreement with the AFL, containing a financial pathway in establishing the Tasmanian-based AFL and AFLW Club, as well as requirements surrounding the construction of a new purpose-built stadium at Macquarie Point including:
  • Seating of 23,000, expandable to 30,000 and adaptable to different types of events, including both circular and rectangular configurations.
  • A fixed, translucent roof.
  • AFL standard and contemporary media facilities.
The agreement outlines financial contributions toward the stadium construction and operations:
  • $15m from the AFL toward the construction of the stadium.
  • $460m from the Tasmanian Government.
  • $240m from the Federal Government.
  • Ongoing funding of $12m annually over 12 years by the Tasmanian Government.
The agreement further outlines that the Tasmanian Government is solely responsible for any cost overruns associated with the stadium construction, as well as penalties for failure to meet 2 to 3 staged completion dates of $4.5m each time paid to the AFL. The AFL retains the right to terminate the Tasmanian licence or waive the stadium requirement if the government withdraws stadium funding.

Stadium design

In July 2024, Cox Architecture released concept designs for a 23,000-seat multipurpose stadium at Macquarie Point in Hobart. The design includes a 1,500-person conference facility and prioritises universal accessibility, with a continuous internal concourse providing step-free access throughout the venue. The project team comprises Cox Architecture in partnership with local practice Cumulus Studio, engineering firms Aecom and Schlaich Bergermann Partner, and the Macquarie Point Development Corporation. Construction is expected to commence in late 2025, with the stadium scheduled to open ahead of the 2029 AFL season.

Roof

The roof design for the Macquarie Point Stadium is conceived as a translucent, fully enclosed dome, using ETFE as the primary cladding material. It is supported by a hybrid structural system of steel and Tasmanian-sourced laminated timber, intended to showcase local materials and sustainable construction practices. The roof is the most expensive component of the stadium development. Initially budgeted at $190 million, its cost was later revised to $207 million in early 2025.
The structure’s transparent form is also intended to soften the stadium’s visual impact on the Hobart waterfront, particularly in relation to the nearby Hobart Cenotaph and Queen’s Domain. In practical terms, the enclosed roof is designed to allow the stadium to host events in all weather conditions.
If completed as planned, the stadium will be the largest timber-roofed sporting venue in the world. The roof height is designed to peak at and taper to, with a final internal clearance of to accommodate international cricket.

Test cricket play

Cricket has previously been played under a roof at Melbourne’s Docklands Stadium, which has hosted domestic Twenty20 and One Day International fixtures. However, the venue is not approved for Test cricket due to lighting conditions and fixed roof height limitations.
These limitations informed the approach taken in the design of Macquarie Point Stadium. Its roof geometry and internal volume were developed in consultation with Cricket Tasmania and tested using Hawk-Eye ball-tracking technology to ensure the vertical trajectory of a cricket ball could be accommodated, with the goal of enabling indoor Test cricket for the first time.
Despite these efforts, in early 2025 both Cricket Australia and Cricket Tasmania expressed "significant concerns" about the proposed fixed roof, including the potential for shadows to impact visibility and the conduct of play. In May, Cricket Australia formally rejected the enclosed roof design, indicating a preference for a roofless or retractable alternative and stating that national matches would continue at Ninja Stadium unless the design is altered.
In June 2025, the Tasmanian Premier announced a "heads of agreement" with cricket authorities to explore a revised roof solution, aiming to ensure the stadium can host future cricket matches at the national level.

Exterior

The stadium's façade design incorporates woven patterns inspired by Palawa cultural traditions, referencing the region's Indigenous heritage. It also draws on the site’s maritime and industrial history through its materials and form.

Proposed events

Sports events

The proposed anchor tenant for Macquarie Point Stadium is the Tasmania Football Club. Under the stadium’s usage model, the club’s AFL team is expected to play seven home matches per season at the venue, with four additional matches hosted at York Park in Launceston. The financial model assumes an average attendance of 20,825. The stadium is also expected to host three AFL Women's matches annually, with projected crowds of approximately 4,900.
The venue is also intended to accommodate cricket during the summer season.
Cricket fixtures proposed in the financial model include one annual Test match, one men's and one women's ODI or Twenty20 match, four Big Bash League games, and four Women's Big Bash League games. The venue is under consideration as a future home ground for the Hobart Hurricanes men's and women's teams, and may also serve as a summer venue for the Tasmanian Tigers in domestic competitions such as the Sheffield Shield and national one-day tournaments.
Earlier concept plans included movable lower-tier seating to accommodate rectangular field sports such as rugby and soccer, aiming to improve sightlines and spectator experience. This feature was not retained in the final design. Nonetheless, planning documents include a variety of rugby and soccer events, including matches from the National Rugby League, NRL Women's Premiership, State of Origin, and Super Rugby Pacific, as well as potential international fixtures featuring the Wallabies and Wallaroos. Discussions have also included the possibility of hosting A-League Men's and A-League Women's matches, along with international matches for the Socceroos and Matildas.
Event typeFrequencyExpected average attendanceNotes
AFL matches7 per season20,825Home games for the Tasmania Football Club.
AFLW matches3 per season4,900Home games for the Tasmania Football Club.
BBL & WBBL matches4 per season10,413Potential home ground for the Hobart Hurricanes men's and women's teams, subject to approval from Cricket Australia.
Test cricket1–4 years14,088-
Men's ODI & T20 cricket1–2 years15,313-
Women's ODI & T20 cricket1–2 years15,313-
A-League match1 per season8,575-
Socceroos match1–4 years22,050-
Matildas match1–4 years22,050-
NRL match1 per season17,763-
NRLW match1 per season17,763-
State of Origin match1–5 years–-
Super Rugby Pacific match1 per season–-
Wallabies match1–4 years–-
Wallaroos match1–4 years–-