Tasmania Advances Macquarie Point Stadium Tender as Crucial Decision Phase Approaches

The infrastructure delivery for Tasmania’s incoming AFL franchise has reached a pivotal juncture, with the Tasmanian government entering the critical assessment phase to determine the builder for the proposed 24,000-capacity Macquarie Point Stadium.

Following the closure of the expression of interest phase, two prominent construction heavyweights, Constructure Joint Venture and BESIX Watpac, remain in active contention for the major commercial tender.

Bids from both contenders were officially submitted in early August, setting the stage for stage two evaluations in October where the preferred tenderer will be required to submit detailed modelling, capability frameworks, and a firm target price.

Securing a formal construction contract by the end of 2026 remains a core strategic objective for the state government, serving as a critical prerequisite for the AFL to officially ratify Tasmania’s 19th licence ahead of the team’s planned competition entry in 2028.

BESIX Watpac brings extensive major-project experience to the process, having recently been selected as a finalist for the proposed Victoria Park stadium in Brisbane ahead of the 2032 Olympic Games, alongside its successful delivery of a major stadium in Christchurch, New Zealand, which finished significantly under budget and on schedule.

Under current projections, the Macquarie Point facility is slated for completion by late 2030, positioning the venue to host fixtures by the 2031 AFL season, representing the club’s fourth year in the national competition.

Parallel to the stadium tender process, the club’s infrastructure roadmap is gathering momentum following the announcement that Tasmanian enterprise Fairbrother Construction has been officially appointed to construct the franchise’s high-performance training facility in Kingston.

The development plan incorporates the comprehensive redevelopment of the primary training oval, scheduled for completion by October 2027 to accommodate the team’s inaugural pre-season training block. The full high-performance centre is scheduled for final delivery by mid-2028, aligning with the club’s historic entry into the professional league.

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