What would it be like to visit the proposed Hobart stadium?

With a final decision now on the horizon, the debate over the proposed Macquarie Point stadium has grown louder and more familiar.

Arguments tend to focus on the $1.13 billion price tag, the “monolithic” scale, its place on Hobart’s waterfront and whether politicians should bend to the will of a stubborn sporting body.

At the centre of all that noise is a striking, dome-shaped arena capable of hosting more than 20,000 people at elite-level sporting games and large concerts.

So, setting all the politics aside — just for a moment — what would it actually be like to visit the stadium that is being proposed for Hobart?

Entering the stadium

If it gets built, the stadium would sit on a large plot of land between the River Derwent, Hobart’s CBD and the Queen’s Domain.

It would be plopped beside a working port, a picturesque row of heritage buildings and one of the city’s busiest intersections.

A wide public concourse would encircle the building, offering space for crowds to gather before attendees begin to filter through the four main entrances.

This area would be generally exposed to the elements, though wind tunnel tests suggest the comfort levels would be “suitable”.

The most popular entrance is expected to be Gate 1, which is closest to the port and would feature an “active event plaza”.

More than 8,800 people are expected to enter through there for sold-out AFL games — which is roughly a third of the total attendees.

Travelling clockwise around the stadium, Gate 2 sits right by the major intersection and would serve members and “premium” ticket holders.

Those walking to the stadium from the Queen’s Domain are expected to use Gate 3, which would feature sunken cricket practice nets and the relocated Goods Shed — which has been re-imagined as a trendy bar.

The final entrance, Gate 4, would be positioned alongside the proposed bus plaza and cater to those travelling via public transport, with access for wheelchair users.

When major events are taking place, security checkpoints would be established up to 30 metres out from each gate.

Planners estimate about 116 people a minute would flow through the security lanes at Gate 1.

The spectator experience

Visitors would then move through an atrium that opens into a circular concourse lined with food outlets, bars and bathrooms.

Some wind would be able to blow into this internal concourse through some open sections, but modelling suggests there won’t be any significant comfort issues.

From there, people would be able to access the seating bowl, which would have capacity for 23,000 people.

The seats would be angled and tiered to provide each spectator with “clear, unrestricted views” of the oval, which stretches about 160 metres from one end to the other.

The roof would shield the crowds from wind and rain — and the stadium would feature large video boards and lighting rings designed to add to the “immersive experience”.

The field itself would be multi-purpose, able to be configured for AFL, cricket, soccer and rugby, as well as one-off events such as boxing or basketball.

For major concerts, seating in the lower bowl would be retracted to allow crowds to flood onto the field and a stage would be set up on the northern end of the oval.

Capacity for these events would rise to 31,000 people, with more than 15,000 allowed on the field.

Major events taking place at night would generally need to wrap up by 10:30pm, as a curfew would require the stadium lights to be switched off by 11pm.

Should an emergency take place during a major event, the stadium has been designed to allow everyone to evacuate within eight minutes.

What about conferences?

Alongside footy and live music, the stadium is also being pitched as a year-round events hub — supposedly hosting up to 40 major conferences annually.

Those events would take place in a large function space in the western grandstand, which would also feature hospitality areas and premium seating.

Conference attendees would enter through Gate 2 and move through a triple-height lobby via lifts, escalators and stairs.

On the top level, the main function room would have views of both the playing surface and Kunanyi/Mt Wellington.

It could be set up for seated dinners, presentations and cocktail events with capacities ranging between 1,500 to 2,000 people.

Movable partitions would allow multiple smaller events to run at once, while kitchen and service areas would sit nearby to cater for guests.

What about the players?

The bowels of the stadium would be inaccessible for the majority of spectators and used primarily by athletes, officials and stadium staff.

An internal service road would wrap around the internal section, giving teams secure access to operational areas.

Players would arrive via this tunnel and head to dedicated locked rooms, warm-up areas, medical spaces and recovery facilities like ice baths.

Nearby, the designs also include a “field club” — a premium hospitality area with views into an indoor training zone.

The players would enter the field through the field club, meaning spectators enjoying a drink could offer encouragement — or the occasional sledge — directly to players.

Getting to and from the stadium

The concept designs paint a glossy picture, but the journey to and from the stadium is expected to have a major impact on how much people enjoy their day out.

The key transport study, conducted by consultancy firm WSP, found the location does “complicate” the city’s already busy road network.

During peak events, modelling suggests a noticeable rise in congestion along the Tasman Bridge, the Brooker Highway and key CBD roads.

In one scenario, a four-minute trip from Rosny Park to the CBD would become a 14-minute journey on the day of a major concert.

The study also found that in some cases, events at the stadium could result in overcrowding on public transport and uncomfortably large crowds of pedestrians.

To avoid gridlock, the consultants said there needed to be a “coordinated, multi-agency” campaign to get people out of their cars.

In its study, WSP found that for traffic to flow smoothly on the day of a sold-out Tasmania Devils game in the AFL, specific targets needed to be met in terms of the transport mix:

• 7,500 people catching buses — 31 per cent of attendees
• 7,300 people driving and parking nearby — 30 per cent
• 5,400 people walking — 22 per cent
• 2,450 people using ride share or taxis — 10 per cent
• 735 people cycling — 3 per cent
• 490 people on the ferry — 2 per cent
• 490 people on private coaches — 2 per cent

As well as hitting that mix, the consultants said more buses would need to be added to Hobart’s network and pedestrian infrastructure would need to be improved — including a pedestrian bridge over Collins Street.

So whether that journey feels smooth and efficient or slow and frustrating may depend largely on how well those targets are met.

So what happens now?

It is worth noting that the design of the stadium is only 70 per cent complete, with the final stages set to be designed by the contractor if the stadium goes ahead.

That decision will be made by Tasmania’s upper house, which will debate the order to approve it on Thursday, December 4.

The same order passed easily through the lower house in early November, but this time the vote is expected to be far tighter.

Whatever the outcome, it will mark the end of years of argument, speculation and sharply drawn opinions.

If the project is approved, perhaps the next round of debates will instead be about finding a seat or a way home.