UTAS Stadium in Launceston, Tasmania, is gearing up for a significant event as the Foo Fighters prepare to perform on January 24, 2024. This concert marks the band’s only Australian show and their first performance in Launceston, with tickets selling out in just 20 minutes, drawing an enthusiastic crowd of 24,000 fans.
Formerly known as York Park, UTAS Stadium has a rich history of hosting a diverse range of events. Since 2001, the venue has been a hub for sporting activities, featuring 96 AFL games, 19 Women’s Big Bash matches, 11 Big Bash games, nine A-League fixtures, and seven AFLW contests. Among the notable moments in its sporting history is Buddy Franklin’s remarkable achievement of scoring 13 goals in a single match, as well as the infamous Sirengate incident involving St Kilda and Fremantle. The stadium also played host to two AFL elimination finals in 2021.
In addition to its sporting prowess, UTAS Stadium has showcased a variety of entertainment acts. The venue has hosted concerts infrequently, with the most recent being the Irish band The Corrs in 2023. Before that, legendary performers such as Ike and Tina Turner graced the stage in 1976, attracting a crowd of 4,500 on Australia Day, making Launceston the only non-capital city they visited during their tour.
Sir Elton John also contributed to the stadium’s entertainment legacy when he performed there as part of his Rocket Man: Greatest Hits Live tour in 2008. His concert attracted 15,000 attendees, with reports suggesting that he only agreed to the Tasmanian show after receiving a call from Tourism Tasmania recommending the venue.
Promoter Michael Chugg expressed his appreciation for having a professional facility like UTAS Stadium available for such significant events. He noted, “It’s great that Tasmania has such a professional entertainment and sporting facility like this for people like ourselves and Sir Elton. We know we can roll in here without having to worry about the infrastructure knowing the people (here) can deal with the crowds, 20,000 or so, for a football match.”
The stadium’s highest attendance for a football match occurred in 2006 when Hawthorn faced Richmond, drawing a crowd of 20,971. Prior to the Foo Fighters concert, the venue’s largest non-sporting event was a religious revival meeting led by Billy Graham in 1959, which attracted 17,000 people.
Hawthorn Football Club has celebrated multiple AFL premierships at UTAS Stadium, bringing in large crowds in 2008, 2013, and 2014. The venue has also been transformed into a motocross track on several occasions, with events like Nitro Circus and Crusty Demons taking place on its turf.
As UTAS Stadium prepares for the Foo Fighters, the upcoming concert illustrates the venue’s dynamic capacity to host both sports and entertainment, continuing its legacy as a vital cultural hub in Tasmania.
