A WINDFALL of almost $30 million for Tasmania last year "validates" Hawthorn's partnership with the state, Hawks CEO Stuart Fox says.
Hawthorn played four home matches at Launceston's Aurora Stadium in the 2014 premiership season, which helped pour $17.5 million into the economy and generated $12 million in brand exposure to Tasmania, according to two reports.
Match attendance and television audiences also increased, with Fox pleased by the results.
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"Both reports together are fantastic news I think for the state, for Launceston council and I think it validates everything we've been doing in the state," Fox said.
"It's a couple of million up on the report that was done back at the end of '09.
"Visitation into the state, people staying for multi-night stays between one and four nights, going onto spend money at wineries and all the fruits of Tasmania and what it's got to offer - that's what we want to see.
"And that's what we're really proud of in respect to helping improve Tasmania's economy."
Tasmania became Hawthorn's naming rights sponsor in 2006.
The current contract with the state government is set to expire at the end of 2016 and preliminary discussions on a new deal are underway.
At present, the deal includes four home and away matches and a pre-season match, with the Hawks and Collingwood kicking-off the NAB Challenge on Thursday night in front of 15,422 boisterous fans who saw Hawthorn fall by 44 points.
There is a push to increase Hawthorn's presence to five home premiership matches, but Fox said it would be difficult to arrange.
"That's part of the discussions. It will be very difficult for us to play another game down here. But we see the model as being four games, plus the pre-season game," he said.
"We'll continue to push to get some good games down here but that's yet to be discussed."
Launceston mayor Albert Van Zetten said the Hawthorn partnership was important for the community, who have been "doing it tough over the past few years".
He revealed Launceston council has been in preliminary discussions with other AFL clubs to play a home game at Aurora Stadium against the Hawks.
"We know that Hawthorn are not that committed to (hosting) the fifth game at the moment, but I'd love to see a fifth game where perhaps Hawthorn play an away game with one of the other teams," Van Zetten said.
"Whether that's a Melbourne or St Kilda, or one of those other clubs, if they can do that here that would be fantastic for us."
.@ShaunBurgoyne9 is all smiles as he meets Hawks fans at Huonville Primary School #hawkstourtassie pic.twitter.com/KY3ouNhag1
— Hawthorn FC (@HawthornFC) February 27, 2015
The economic report released on Friday was generated from Hawthorn's four home and away matches at Aurora Stadium by PriceWaterhouseCoopers, while sports consultancy firm Repucom calculated brand exposure.
Tasmanian premier Will Hodgman lauded the Hawks partnership as "hugely successful" and said it "supports our view that there is significant value generated by playing AFL games in Tasmania".
The Hawks kicked off their 13th Australia Post Community Camp in Tasmania on Friday, with players heading to 21 towns across all corners of the state.