TAS-mania as Devils sell 40,000 post-launch memberships

Tasmania’s AFL club has sold more than 40,000 foundation memberships in the two hours after revealing their mascot and team colours.

The club on Monday night announced it would be known as the Tasmania Devils and wear a traditional green jumper with a yellow island state map as a nod to its history.

It launched $10 foundation memberships, giving fans an ID membership card, stickers and access to yet-to-be-released merchandise.

More than 40,000 memberships had been sold two hours after going live.

For comparison, expansion clubs Greater Western Sydney and the Gold Coast had 33,036 and 23,359 members respectively at the end of 2023.

Free tickets to the launch, held at multiple venues simultaneously across Tasmania, were also snapped up quickly.

“Your club has been blown away by the community support shown,” Tasmania Football Club chair Grant O’Brien said.

“It has been a truly special moment in our state’s football history with thousands of Tasmanians joining in the cheers and tears.”

Tasmanian-born premiership winner and former coach Rodney Eade was part of the launch in Hobart.

“You know (the team) is going to be a success, how much Tasmania has gotten behind it,” Eade told AAP.

The former Swans, Bulldogs and Suns mentor urged his home state to look towards the potential benefits of a contentious new stadium tied to the AFL’s 19th licence.

Tasmania’s entry into the competition is contingent on the construction of a new 23,000-seat roofed waterfront stadium at Macquarie Point in Hobart.

The project, estimated to cost $715 million, was signed and backed by the Liberal state government, which is aiming for a fourth term in office at Saturday’s election.

Labor opposition leader Rebecca White has described the stadium as the wrong priority for the state and wants to try to renegotiate the deal, despite AFL CEO Andrew Dillon remaining unmoved.

White has indicated she would prefer to see a team thrive at existing venues before new infrastructure is considered.

The club, slated to take the field in the AFL and AFLW in 2028, will play at Blundstone Arena in Hobart and Launceston’s University of Tasmania for its first year.

The stadium, which has yet to be designed, faces an independent planning assessment and must then be voted through both houses of parliament.

Former Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse recently accused the AFL of “enforcing” the stadium on a small state that doesn’t need it.

“I know some people have different views about it,” Eade said.

“But it will be great for Tasmania. It’ll be a multi-purpose stadium ... the income and what it’ll generate for the economy (will be beneficial).

“(It’ll create) jobs for our youngsters ... aspiration for boys and girls. It’s a no-brainer.”

The Liberals have pledged to cap their spending on the stadium at $375 million, with the federal government chipping in $240 million, the AFL $15 million and the rest from borrowings, leases and private investment.