Tasmania's bid for an A-League team is discussing plans to build a football-specific stadium in Hobart,
Goal understands.Robert Belteky - one of the main men behind Tasmania's bid - met with Premier Will Hodgman on Thursday to discuss what the island state needs to do to be included in an expanded A-League in the 2018-19 season.Belteky - the owner of parking management group CARe Park - and fellow Victorian businessman Harry Stamoulis are the leaders of a consortium to bring the A-League to Tasmania.
Goal understands that one of the major discussion points was the need for a venue tailored towards football with Tasmania's other major venues - Blundstone Arena in Hobart and Launceston's Aurora Stadium - more suited for Australian rules and cricket. At a press conference after the meeting, Belteky was asked about stadium options fo
At a press conference after the meeting, Belteky was asked about stadium options for his proposed club - an issue that is considered the major weakness of Tasmania's bid.
Belteky believes that Football Federation Australia's criteria for expansion, which are set to be released before July, will be focused around three pillars: financial backing, overall benefit to the A-League and stadia.
"Tasmania needs a rectangular stadium," he said.
Belteky added that any future stadium would need to be adaptable for concerts and other sports, while he also confirmed that the bid's working name for their club is FC Tasmania although he insisted that could be changed.
FFA wants to increase the A-League to 12 clubs in 2018-19.
In November, Belteky and Stamoulis became the first bidders to officially meet with the governing body.
Clubs that have already indicated their interest in joining an expanded A-League include South Melbourne, Brisbane Strikers, Wollongong Wolves and Adelaide City, while areas such as southern Sydney, Geelong and the western corridor of Brisbane have long been touted as options.