A stadium at Hobart's Macquarie Point will present a long list of architectural design and engineering challenges, but one key issue has emerged early: the need for a roof.
It would be an Australia-first, with AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan confirming the roof was a condition for Tasmania receiving its own AFL licence.
And one type of roof has already been put forward.
The business case assumes it will be see-through, made of ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) — a lightweight, self-cleaning plastic that lets in about 95 per cent of ultraviolet sunlight for grass growth.
The panels are cushions filled with low-pressure air.
This type of roof is used on the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, New Zealand, which locals call "the glasshouse" — a rectangular venue that does not host cricket.
Former Cricket Tasmania chief executive officer Nick Cummins said a clear roof could have advantages.
"From a Hobart Hurricanes' perspective, it means the game is definitely on," he said.
"To know in advance that those games are going to happen, it means you don't have to take out weather insurance. Attendances will go up."
The Tasmanian government has argued that a roof would be a "differentiator" for the stadium, compared with others in Australia, and that it would improve the "fan experience" by enabling events to go ahead in all weather conditions.
But concerns were raised last month that a roofed stadium would be unable to host Test cricket under International Cricket Council (ICC) rules.
Mr Cummins said a range of factors could be at play, but Test cricket had already been able to adapt to evening "pink ball" matches.
"The touring team has to agree to the conditions. You might find enterprising countries who would be willing to accommodate it," he said.
"There's also the issue of trying to get an understanding of the properties of a Test wicket under a roof — both in terms of developing a wicket, and what it does for deterioration."
For Test cricket, the stadium would need practice wickets either outside of the ground, or prepared on the playing surface itself — a method seen as undesirable.
Multiple drop-in wickets would also need to be prepared and stored nearby.
Could a roof be hit by a cricket ball?
The height could also be a key factor.
A 23,000-seat stadium is unlikely to have the same height as Melbourne's Docklands Stadium, where the roof is occasionally hit by a cricket ball in Big Bash League matches.
Hobart architect Tim Penny said this would also need to be considered in the design phase.
"If it's a boutique arena, there will be occasions when the ball hits the roof," he said.
"You'd also need to make sure sufficient air volume can pass through. Tasmania has more sunlight hours than Queensland with a higher rate of UV."
In March, the Department of State Growth confirmed it was assumed the roof would be "fixed" rather than retractable.
Mr Penny said a retractable roof might not be as expensive as first feared, with much of the engineering on the Docklands Stadium roof carried out in Tasmania.
"It might be down to about 5 per cent of the total cost," he said.
With a possible height equivalent to a six-storey building, the stadium would be likely to be higher than the Hobart cenotaph.
Retractable roof fades into clear roof
Early artist's impressions of the new stadium may have created some confusion.
The first images showed a floating design with a retractable roof at Hobart's Regatta Point, released in February last year to coincide with former premier Peter Gutwein announcing a stadium.
Those images cost the government $22,500, and were made irrelevant three months later when the AFL chose neighbouring Macquarie Point as its preferred site.
New images were released, showing a flat, fixed, clear roof — likely indicative of an ETFE roof.
Tasmanian cricket legend and ICC match referee David Boon said there would be a lot to consider before allowing all forms of cricket to be played under the roof.
"I've got to be brutally honest, I don't think there's an issue with white ball cricket with a roof on," he said.
"Test cricket, I believe, would probably have to be tested at a different level before that approval [would] be given for Test cricket.
"But without a roof? Game on."
The Forsyth Barr Stadium was initially estimated to cost $188 million in 2009, but ended up costing $224 million. Dunedin council documents do not provide a cost breakdown for the roof.
Some larger concerts at the venue had resulted in complaints about the acoustics.
The under-construction Te Kaha stadium in Christchurch — considered the template for the Macquarie Point stadium — has also sustained significant cost overruns and delays.
