AusLeisure

Following an agreement between the Tasmanian Government, Western United Football Club, and Football Tasmania, A-League games will be played in Tasmania this year for the first time since 2013.

As part of the agreement, the Tasmanian Government will provide funding of $480,000 across two years which will include junior football clinics and youth camps attended by the Western United Football Club (WUFC) and Calder United players and coaches.

Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein said the agreement would see Victorian club Western United host two games per year at UTAS Stadium in Launceston across the 2021 and 2022 seasons.

Calder United, a women’s team affiliated with Western United, will also play a match against a Tasmanian women’s select team in 2021, with a W-League game to be played in 2022.

Premier Gutwein notes “the return of A-League games to Launceston is a great win for our State and once again confirms Tasmania’s ability to host elite level sport.

“Tasmania has a rich sporting history and this partnership is another important marker in our plan to secure elite sports that deliver numerous economic benefits, as well as positioning Tasmania as a destination of choice for visitors.

“We have seen strong growth in football participation in recent years in Tasmania, and this will further create opportunities and incentives to develop our local talent, as well as further our ambition to establish an A-League team of our own here in Tasmania.”

Tasmanian Minister for Sport and Recreation, Jane Howlett said the partnership would encourage further participation in football across the State.

Minister Howlett adds “football is surging in popularity as a participation sport in Tasmania and this partnership with Western United Football Club and the A-League will further encourage people to take up the sport at all levels.

“Tasmania is already punching above our weight in our ability to host elite level sporting events, including the introduction of our very own NBL team later this year.

“There is no doubt that Tasmanians love their sport and I encourage everyone to turn out in force and get behind Western United in their home away from home, as well as supporting our own Tasmanian women’s team when they face Calder United.”

Related Articles

21st February 2021 - Tasmanian Premier unhappy with AFL response to bid for state-based team

18th February 2021 - Tasmanian builder awarded Derwent Entertainment Centre redevelopment contract

18th February 2021 - Netball Tasmania announces push for Super Netball license

15th February 2021 - ARTAS Architects awarded tender for Tasmania’s $20 million indoor sport facility

13th February 2021 - Tasmanian Premier calls for solid timeline for Tasmania getting its own AFL team

7th January 2021 - Tasmanian Government helps fund return of events in 2021

10th November 2020 - Tasmanian Government’s purchase of the Derwent Entertainment Centre advances JackJumpers NBL debut

23rd October 2020 - Tasmania’s Women in Sport Coaching Scholarship applications open

25th August 2020 - AFL Tasmania Chief Executive Trisha Squires heads to Queensland

7th May 2020 - Tasmanian Government announces sport and recreation organisations benefiting from support package

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.