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Western Jamaica Sporting Facilities Failing To Rake In Cash
Published: Saturday | May 11, 20130 Comments
Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium. - File
Paul Clarke, Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
While the athletes from western Jamaica continue to shine on the global stage, the primary sporting facilities in the region are in a sorry state of affairs.
Facilities such as the US$30 million Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium and theMontego Bay Sports Complex are woefully underutilised and are not able to generate the funding needed to make them self-sufficient.
"We have not followed through with the vision that was in place when we created a facility like the Trelawny Stadium," said Alston Stewart, who acted as a government adviser in the development of the facility, which hosted the opening ceremony for the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup.
The complex is bleeding the state coffers, racking up an annual maintenance bill of approximately J$34 million.
The Montego Bay Sports Complex, which was built at a cost of J$1.1 billion through a spin-off arrangement from the PetroCaribe deal between Jamaica and Venezuela, is also being underutilised, forcing businessman Howard Ward, the head of the complex's management committee, to be looking outside of sports to generate earnings.
HIGH ENERGY BILL
According to Ward, the complex, which is used by the Montego Bay United Football Club (MBUFC) for home games in the Red Stripe National Premier League, racks up a monthly energy bill of between $400,000 and $500,000, which has to be addressed if the stadium is to remain viable.
"We have been doing a lot of work in terms of marketing the stadium and this, I must add, is under extremely trying circumstances," Ward said.
According to Ward, since Montego Bay hosted the 2011 Under-17 World Cup Qualifiers, the facility has seen relative success, inclusive of interests from international groups wanting to use it to host stage shows.
On the other hand, WestPow Park in Montego Bay, and the Treasure Beach Sports Park in Southern St Elizabeth, seem to be holding their own in terms of economic viability.
"We operate a public-private partnership here at the Treasure Beach Sports Park, and so far, we have been growing in leaps and bounds," said Jason Henzell, principal for the BREDS foundation, the community organisation which oversees the Treasure Beach facility.
EYES ON BASEBALL DIAMOND
"It is important to note that this facility is appealing to those outside because of the location and what we offer here," said Henzell. "We are looking to invite persons from the United States to lay down a baseball diamond."
The Frome Sports Ground in Westmoreland, which is owned by the Chinese -run PanCaribbean Sugar Company, has great scope for development, but while its owners have allowed the Westmoreland Football Association (FA) to use it free of charge, there seem to be no plans in place for its further development.
"The Westmoreland FA has had a long-term plan to have the Frome facility developed into a mini-stadium, but that cannot be done with the involvement of the management of the sugar estate," said Everton Tomlinson, president of the Westmoreland FA. "The venue has potential to become economically viable, but it needs to be upgraded first."
Like the Frome Sports Ground, the Elliston Wakeland Centre in Falmouth, Trelawny, and the Watson Taylor Park in Lucea, Hanover, which fall under the ambit of parish councils in both parishes, are heavily used but not structured for revenue generation
Published: Saturday | May 11, 20130 Comments
Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium. - File
Paul Clarke, Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
While the athletes from western Jamaica continue to shine on the global stage, the primary sporting facilities in the region are in a sorry state of affairs.
Facilities such as the US$30 million Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium and theMontego Bay Sports Complex are woefully underutilised and are not able to generate the funding needed to make them self-sufficient.
"We have not followed through with the vision that was in place when we created a facility like the Trelawny Stadium," said Alston Stewart, who acted as a government adviser in the development of the facility, which hosted the opening ceremony for the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup.
The complex is bleeding the state coffers, racking up an annual maintenance bill of approximately J$34 million.
The Montego Bay Sports Complex, which was built at a cost of J$1.1 billion through a spin-off arrangement from the PetroCaribe deal between Jamaica and Venezuela, is also being underutilised, forcing businessman Howard Ward, the head of the complex's management committee, to be looking outside of sports to generate earnings.
HIGH ENERGY BILL
According to Ward, the complex, which is used by the Montego Bay United Football Club (MBUFC) for home games in the Red Stripe National Premier League, racks up a monthly energy bill of between $400,000 and $500,000, which has to be addressed if the stadium is to remain viable.
"We have been doing a lot of work in terms of marketing the stadium and this, I must add, is under extremely trying circumstances," Ward said.
According to Ward, since Montego Bay hosted the 2011 Under-17 World Cup Qualifiers, the facility has seen relative success, inclusive of interests from international groups wanting to use it to host stage shows.
On the other hand, WestPow Park in Montego Bay, and the Treasure Beach Sports Park in Southern St Elizabeth, seem to be holding their own in terms of economic viability.
"We operate a public-private partnership here at the Treasure Beach Sports Park, and so far, we have been growing in leaps and bounds," said Jason Henzell, principal for the BREDS foundation, the community organisation which oversees the Treasure Beach facility.
EYES ON BASEBALL DIAMOND
"It is important to note that this facility is appealing to those outside because of the location and what we offer here," said Henzell. "We are looking to invite persons from the United States to lay down a baseball diamond."
The Frome Sports Ground in Westmoreland, which is owned by the Chinese -run PanCaribbean Sugar Company, has great scope for development, but while its owners have allowed the Westmoreland Football Association (FA) to use it free of charge, there seem to be no plans in place for its further development.
"The Westmoreland FA has had a long-term plan to have the Frome facility developed into a mini-stadium, but that cannot be done with the involvement of the management of the sugar estate," said Everton Tomlinson, president of the Westmoreland FA. "The venue has potential to become economically viable, but it needs to be upgraded first."
Like the Frome Sports Ground, the Elliston Wakeland Centre in Falmouth, Trelawny, and the Watson Taylor Park in Lucea, Hanover, which fall under the ambit of parish councils in both parishes, are heavily used but not structured for revenue generation