Media statement – Kristie Johnston MHA, independent Member for Clark, 24 September 2025

Howzat? … Stadium cricket revenue is hit and hope

How can the Premier responsibly proceed with the stadium vote without key cricket revenue being locked in?

As it stands, right now, cricket won’t be played at the stadium.

Cricket Australia (CA), Cricket Tasmania and the government have agreed to explore a heroic optimism for cricket to played under a roof.

But CA also tells me that it and the International Cricket Council (ICC) won’t start contemplating that remote possibility until after this summer.

CA and the ICC remain to be convinced the stadium, with its roof, is fit for purpose. It says a thorough testing program is required to inform its position, and that is expected to take place during the 2025-26 season.

The stadium’s business case is based on cricket being played there, including one Test match a year.

But if cricket can’t or won’t play there the bottom falls even further out of an already abysmal business case.

The Premier cannot responsibly proceed with the project if we don’t know if one of the major revenue sources is locked in.

Email from Cricket Australia to Kristie Johnston’s office 23/9/25

Below is a summary of where things stand from Cricket’s perspective:

Cricket supports a stadium at Macquarie Point as part of the sport’s outlook for cricket in Tasmania and our infrastructure requirements.

However, the stadium design needs to satisfy both Cricket Australia’s and the ICC’s assessment criteria and playing conditions.

It is for this reason that we are working closely with the stadium project team on the venue design and operation, the roof in particular, to make sure that all aspects are fit for purpose.

And given the unique element of a fixed roof, why we are committed to a thorough testing program to inform our position.

A Heads of Agreement has been executed between Cricket Australia, Cricket Tasmania and the Tasmanian Government to give all parties a base commitment underpinning the approach to and development of the of the testing.

As such, we are engaging with key ‘cricket minds’ with domestic and international knowledge and experience in all aspects of stadia design, build, operation and maintenance.
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The testing is expected to take place during the 2025-26 season and will inform CA’s and the ICC’s position on the design, well ahead of the constriction works beginning.

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