The Tasmania Devils AFL team will join the Australian Football League (AFL) in 2028, and as part of this, a new stadium will be built in Hobart. This 23,000-seat venue at Macquarie Point will feature a transparent roof, allowing it to host both daytime and floodlit T20 cricket matches. The stadium aims to host indoor Test cricket, a first for enclosed grounds.
Anne Beach, CEO of Macquarie Point Development Corporation, emphasized the goal of accommodating red-ball cricket. Collaboration with Cricket Tasmania, Cricket Australia, and the International Cricket Council (ICC) is crucial for the stadium’s accreditation, pending its construction.
Concept designs show that ball-tracking technology ensures the 50-meter roof height won’t interfere with play. This addressed concerns from previous experiences at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne. Additionally, experts confirmed that the roof’s design would minimize shadow impact on the playing surface.
David Boon, Chair of Cricket Tasmania, highlighted the opportunity for innovation and collaboration in bringing cricket to the new stadium in Hobart. The move raises questions about the future of Bellerive Oval, which last hosted a Test match in the 2021-22 Ashes series. Tasmania won’t host another Test in the current Future Tours Programme, but it will have T20I and ODI matches in late 2023 and early 2024.
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