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Tasmanian Government Premier, Peter Gutwein has announced that a new entity, to be known as Stadiums Tasmania, will be created to manage the state’s major venues, while also investigating the feasibility of adding a roof to either Hobart’s Blundstone Arena or Launceton’s UTAS Stadium.

Premier Gutwein said on Monday that discussions have commenced with the City of Launceston and the Clarence City Council regarding the transfer of both venues to be owned, managed, and developed by the new entity.

He said the new entity would oversee not only Blundstone Arena and UTAS Stadium, but other state-owned assets such as Launceston’s Silverdome and the Derwent Entertainment Centre (now known as MyState Bank Arena) which is currently being redeveloped ahead of the JackJumpers entry into the NBL later this year.

Premier Gutwein advised “this will ensure that Stadiums Tasmania is responsible for the management of stadium assets into the future, including revenues and expenditures, with capacity to borrow funds for stadium upgrades and developments.

“We strongly believe Tasmania deserves to have its own Tasmanian teams in national competitions, and this will allow us to stay ahead of the curve and deliver the sporting infrastructure our state needs.”

Premier Gutwein said the creation of the new entity would allow Tasmania to better invest in contemporary facilities that will enable the state to secure national and international events into the future, including the upgrade of UTAS Stadium.

A proposed $208 million redevelopment of UTAS Stadium was announced in February and would boost the stadium's seating capacity to 27,500 as well as the construction of a new 5,000-seat indoor arena.

Premier Gutwein also said the possibility of a roofed stadium would be investigated at one of the two major outdoor venues, adding “we were very clear in our policy in the election that Stadiums Tasmania would look at our current stadiums to see whether or not a roof might be possible.”

Image: AFL action at Hobart's Blundstone Arena.

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