Bellerive Oval also known as Ninja Stadium currently Host AFL games so why can’t it be Hobart’s home to the Tasmanian AFL team permanently?
When Bellerive Oval underwent a major upgrade that was completed in 2003 the idea was that it would be the home of cricket in Tasmania and York Park in Launceston would be the home of AFL. The upgrades were designed for cricket with one end of the ground having a corporate building rather then a public grandstand that you would see at other AFL grounds. This makes sense when a cricket game is on as anyone sitting in a grandstand would be blocked by the slight screen.
With the limited space at the ground doing upgrades to turn the ground into a better place to watch AFL would be challenging. The hill would need to be removed and the North West Stand demolished. Seeing as Church Street is right up against the ground it would be likely that the street would need to be made a one way street or even having to demolish some of the houses on that street. Any upgrades would not change the restrictions with noise and using the grounds lights.
Parking is a major issue with events at the ground both trying to find a park and leaving after an event. Long delays can be experienced to get out of Bellerive which has an effect on some people choosing not to attend some events because of it.
Weather plays a major factor on a crowd numbers with people who have a ticket to sit on the hill having no where to go if it starts raining during a game. It can also get very cold when the sea breeze pickups up.
Long lines for food and drink are a common factor when an event gets large crowds and the line for toilets can be just a bad with portable toilets having to be brought in to cope with demand.
Bellerive can be a great ground to watch cricket on a hot summer’s day but in the cold of winter it is horrible and playing AFL games there will hurt the club financially. A new stadium for Hobart is a must for our future AFL team.
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