The AFL have drop punted the Hawks, now Devils must deliver visitor dollars |
For 25 years, Hawthorn has been more than a visiting AFL club in Launceston. The club has made York Park its home away from home. The Hawks have proven to be an economic blessing for our city's hospitality industry and a symbol that elite football can thrive in northern Tasmania. Its forced departure after 2027, at the urging of the Tasmania Devils and with the AFL's backing, marks the end of one of the most successful state-club partnerships the game has ever seen. That reality should not be brushed aside.
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Concerns are mounting over the Hawks' dumping. Leading the charge is the Launceston business community, a group notorious lately for sticking its nose where it is not welcome, but this time, their points are valid and closely echoed by the tourism industry.
Former Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett is right to call out the short-sightedness of the decision. Kennett isn't everyone's cup of tea, but his frustration reflects a legitimate concern, shared by many hospitality business owners, including prominent restaurant owner Don Cameron. The primary concern is that Launceston is losing a known money spinner for an untested promise. According to PricewaterhouseCoopers, Hawks games generated more than $20 million annually for the northern Tasmanian economy. Hotels filled, pubs........