AFL boss Gillon McLachlan has indicated Tasmania's bid for a 19th licence is contingent on the island state building a new stadium.
McLachlan met with recently appointed Tasmania premier Jeremy Rockliff in Hobart on Thursday ahead of a vote of the 18 club presidents on expansion in August.
McLachlan confirmed the league would only consider issuing a new licence, rather than relocating an existing club to Tasmania.
The state government in March announced plans to develop a multi-purpose stadium at Hobart's waterfront, costing an estimated $750 million.
"If you look around this country ... and you look at the cities where AFL and other sports (are) being played, you need a stadium that can compete in 2022, or 2025, 2026," McLachlan said.
"Whether it's contingent or however you want to frame it ... this team needs and will have a new stadium if it wants a licence. And I think Tasmanians will expect that."
Tasmania's government has pledged $150 million towards the bid, made up of $50 million for a high performance centre and $10 million per year over a decade.
Mr Rockliff described the talks as progressive and said the funding pledge showed the government was "bloody serious" about the bid.
