NOW MORE THAN EVER JAMAICA NEEDS A NEW STADIUM
The ISSA/Grace Kennedy Boys and Girls Championships comes up this week and the usual rush for tickets, Grand Stand tickets, is at its usual peak. Come Wednesday, tickets will again go on sale and on that day there will be thousands, perhaps tens of thousands of fans who will be disappointed yet again that they were unable to secure Grand Stand tickets. Bleachers tickets are available but the demand for them is a lot less, so the suffering continues.
The National Stadium is 50 years old. At the time the stadium was built Jamaica’s population was about a million. There was about 380,000 persons living in Kingston. The capacity of the stadium is just about 30,000, five thousand of those seats are in the Grand Stand. Jamaica’s population has tripled since then, the population of Kingston and its immediate environs, about four to five times what is was back then. The size of the stadium however, remains unchanged. This is why the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) has embarked on some innovative ways to keep the growing number of fans of Champs engaged, easing their frustrations enough to prevent them from getting turned off all together.
It is pointless to lament the lack of vision of our politicians even as we hail the far-reaching vision of Norman Washington Manley without whom Jamaica would not have a stadium today; at the very least a national stadium. In the 50 years since the stadium was built, Jamaica has gone on to build an even stronger brand as a sporting nation. Trinidad and Tobago over the same period, has built several stadia to help foster the development of their athletes and sporting programmes. And yes, people will argue that Trinidad has oil, as if that is the explanation for everything that happens there but what it actually is, is that their leaders had a vision for what things could be like down the road. Here in Jamaica, the only thing our politicians plan for is elections.
Hence Jamaica finds itself without a modern facility to show off our talented track and field athletes, footballers, swimmers, boxers; all the sports people that have helped make Jamaica a major sporting nation. A larger stadium could have been built during the 1970s, but political upheaval and foreign interference reduced Jamaica to a Third World hell hole. We have been trying to recover ever since.
To build a proper stadium facility now will cost somewhere between US$300 and $400 million, just about the same amount of money the country borrowed from China for the Jamaica Infrastructure Development Programme (JDIP) that, not surprisingly, was derailed by wanton mismanagement. Despite this we should try to raise the money from investors and have the building managed by people from overseas so we can keep the construction under budget and have it completed in reasonable time.
In the meantime, a proper plan needs to be devised to have that new stadium consistently generate revenue to suit investors, as well as add money to our coffers and employment for Jamaica. If I should start to list the possibilities that a modern facility would bring I would be writing into next week, suffice it to say that with a little creative thinking and innovation, the potential is significant. Yes, we are broke but getting out of poverty requires visionary thinking and leadership and while our political leaders might be deficient of those skill sets, there are people here who can make this a reality and Jamaica can get the modern stadium it deserves.
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Your heartfelt plea for a modern, first world Stadium is argreeable on my part. Since the government lack the visionary and skill sets to create and implement the building of a new stadium, then what about those people who you say are there to make a new stadium a reality? Why aren’t they drafting a plan of action? Also, based on what you claim, the new stadium may be a lucrative endeavour, which is all the more compelling reason for the private section to get on board. Maybe, they too lack the visionay skills.
I totally agree,Jamaica has too much talent for it not be showcased in the correct manner. also is the act that we waste to much money on unnecessary things. we also have more than enough land space available to build a stadium. It’s only a pity we would have to look outside of the country for someone to effectively put up this great monument and control the spending re the building of the stadium.
Not a stadium, you guys are short sighted. A sport village with modern villas for tech, and visual supports that can carry the special Olympics and every conceivable major sports and then join the current stadium with the use of the up park camp grounds. We can also create snow, in the 90 degrees weather for ice hockey tournments from Canada and Europe. Interesting right?
Build the new stadium down town near the train line and bus stop with enough parking for at least 5000 cars. Lets get the trains running too while we are at it.
In most modern societies the government does not build stadia this is the role of private investors. This article reflects the type of backward thinking that has frozen the jamaican people and economy in time. We wait on the government for everything and we do nothing for ourselves. Why do we not have jobs? Because Jamaicans don’t start sufficient companied to employ the nation. Why is this the case the banks have no vision and the borrower with a little vision does not know how to communicate this vision. Stop waiting on the government to baby sit us, only jamaicans can get Jamaica out of our current situation.
The writer did say ‘raise the money from investors’.
The existing Stadium can be engineered to hold another 20000 people taking the capacity to 50000. I worked on the original Stadium so I am familiar with the design of Wilson Chong the Architect who designed it. The engineer who did most of the grandstand design is still actively engaged in engineering in Kingston. Why dont you approach him and ask him to show you how the existing stadium can be structured to acommadate another 20000 spectators.
Before seeing this article just minutes ago, this morning I was thinking about the role that the private sector plays in the Jamaican society generally but in sports in particular. My concern is that private companies and the whole private sector has not supported Jamaica’s development sufficiently, especially when one considers the substantial benefits received. To be frank, I believe it is shameful that no private sporting facility of note exists in the country. The biggest issue here, I believe, concerns leadership, and not just political leadership and personal biases. Let me explain.
Several years ago in the mid 1990s, I was one of three persons (me from MoBay, a consultant from Barbados, and a lady from Kingston) at the PIOJ asked to review the Draft Greater Montego Bay Redevelopment Plan for workable projects. One of the top projects in the Plan was construction of a stadium so we looked at that proposal at our very first meeting. Before we looked at any data or did any analysis, my colleague from Kingston emphasized and insisted that “MoBay nuh need no stadium. Dem only a try follow Kingston.” Alarmed by her comments, I rebuked and reminded her that we were asked for professional judgements, not personal views. I then began to wonder how many other high level decisions had been made based on personal views of the lead actors, without valid data to justify the decisions. Based on the many projects I worked on (Highway 2000 tops the list), I know the answer — too many.
Jamaica needs at least one stadium in each county and given our outstanding record in the international sporting arena, it is shameful that we do not. I am convinced that if that first stadium was constructed outside Kingston in 1962, at least one more would have been built, in Kingston, of course. It is now time for the private sector to step up and contribute by building modern modern sporting facilities. It is not just in sports either. In the convention market, the only two convention centers we have–the recent MoBay Convention Center and Jamaica Convention Center in Kingston–are government built and owned. Time for the private sector to look at itself and its own failures and not just criticize government for not doing enough.
What nonsense! Now more than ever Jamaica does NOT need a new stadium. The case for spending $300M usd on a structure to be used a few times a year is madness. So only 5,000 people can be in the covered part of the stadium, so what? Where is the “suffering”? Most stadia worldwide are uncovered anyway.
Suffering, my friend, is the above 30% unemployment – higher for those under 25, the stubborn murder rate that keeps us tagged with most violent nation status, not being able to get medical treatment because the one machine in the country bruk down and there is no money to fix it.
With $300M usd, we could train 5000 new engineers and programmers, 5000 healthcare professionals, 5000 master teachers in maths and science, expand the Universities, and build a few more high schools.
How is that for relieving our “suffering”?
I do agree with you Mr. Guy. The question is when we construct a new stadium, what will happen to this one that we are using now? We do not a need a new stadium what we need to do is re-furbish this stadium so that we can expand on the capacity as well as the ammeneties
The original design of the current stadium would have to be significantly re-engineered to meet today’s standard. It’s not just a matter of adding seats. Modern stadia have vastly improved facilities for the press, state of the art electronic security, a modern communication system, private sky boxes, to name a few.
The cost of retro-fitting a fifty year old facility would be very costly and an engineering nightmare. Also, as stated in previous comments, private $$ should be raised for the construction and operation of such a facility. Take the government out of it and out of the business of sport. This idea that government builds these facilities for the people is nonsense. And please, no ice hockey.
The original design of the current stadium would have to be significantly re-engineered to meet today’s standard. It’s not just a matter of adding seats. Modern stadia have vastly improved facilities for the press, state of the art electronic security, a modern communication system, private sky boxes, to name a few.
The cost of retro-fitting a fifty year old facility would be very significant and an engineering nightmare. Also, as stated in previous comments, private $$ should be raised for the construction and operation of such a facility. Take the government out of it and out of the business of sport. This idea that government builds these facilities for the people is nonsense. And please, no ice hockey.
Nonsense! What are we doing with another new stadium when the tax payers had to foot the bill for the one that was built in Trelawny recently?
Up to this point we dont even know the full cost of that new stadium that has been just put down like a tomb in a cemetery and forget about.
If people would just sit down and think properly they would realize that The National Stadium in Kingston is idle for most the year.
There are also more sporting facilities across the island that are not been used and that includes one at Sligoville.
These stadia should be hosting events almost every week in order to recover the cost for construction and maintenance.
We dont need anymore stadium, we need to utilize what we already have.
Nothing meaningful gets done in Jamaica unless foreigners are involved. Jamaica is a land of followers, just look at our leaders… I would to see a new stadium in Jamaica, but with the current crop of leaders it seems like a vision without sight.
Yes we have outgrown the stadium we now have. Does it have to be in Kingston where we may not have adequate land space. Why is it we feel that foreign people are not corrupt?
Raising money from investors is not the same as having private persons build and run the stadium as a private concern. Governments borrow money from private investors frequently. Does that make them private?
I agree that Jamaicans in general wait on the government to provide everything. They get angry and block roads for government work, government this and government that. Meanwhile, the burden government creates on tax payers to meet this expectation stifles businesses, reducing the tax base, even while the demands from the ignorant public increases.
Sad, sad, indeed!
In the US of A one political party espouses independent individuals and small government. Jamaicans in general deslike them, equating them with racists and anti-black / anti-poor. No surprise there, but interestingly, the other party is similar in thinking to most Jamaicans way of looking at government; big government which provides everything and intrudes in your personal life in order to ‘help’ you. We love Barrack Obama, because he is black, a Democrat and he thinks like us. It is no surprise therefore that the US under Obama borrowed more money and spent more on hand-outs than all other US Presidents combined. And, in only three years!
Obama must be related to us.
Rick Berns you are an idiot!
And that is where your thinking is flawed Ric Bent. Any plan for a new stadium would have to also include ways by which it will be able to generate revenue to justify its existence. There are many ways in which that can be done.
Levy – I am still waiting for these “many ways” to generate revenue from a $300M usd stadium? Given the income levels in JA, that is all a “pipe -dream”, my friend.
we would need to sit down. No pipe dreams here my friend. Take the blinkers off. Barbados already does some of the things I have in mind. If they do it successfully why cant we?
jamaica needs to renovate our national so we can ccompete with nations to host international sporting events. such as the world championships this is my dream.
jamaica needs to renovate our national stadium, so we can compete with nations to host international sporting events. such as the world championships this is my dream.
Agree with Ric Bent. A new stadium to be filled twice a year at most? Who will support its maintenance? This is a discussion that emerges only when Champs tickets go on sale and on rare occasions otherwise. In the interim, rental of that venue becomes even more astronomical.
Clare am disappointed. Of all people I thought you would be able to see the bigger picture. We limit ourselves by thinking small and hence we never grow.
IF our athletes can repeat Berlin in London, then I agree that Jamaica can become a sports-industry-mad nation. As such we shouuld get seriously professional about sports; pride of place to track AND field. Put Lawn tennis/table tennis in the schools; archery;golf;boxing in the clubs; clay shooting,SWIMMING; water polo; diving; gymnastics; fencing; wrestling . Some can go into the communities, esp boxing/fencing, cycling, swimming and tap into the dogheart bravado of former gunmen. Invite American teams to train at Trelawny Stadium, which can be an embryo for many things. A NEW stadium will depend on how things pan out ESPECIALLY with the reggae boys and the world cup.Jamaica COULD start bidding for World cup by 2050, ceteris paribus.
the stadium is only guaranteed to be filled to capacity on only one day for the year. thats on the Saturday of Champs.when the Reggae Boyz look like they might have a chance in World Cup qualifying the bandwagonists come out and fill the stadium for a couple games.the stadium is never ever filled for any other event. even track meets with world class runners present eg Jamaica Invitational in May,only attract people in the grandstand.it doesnt matter when the Stadium was built or what the Jamaican population was at the time,the fact is 99% of the time the events that are taking place have empty seats all over.
the stadium needs to be renovated thats all.close it down for a while, fix the bathrooms and the concession areas . their is no need for expansion.
@Levyl – I have given up. You still cant give me the many revenue generating activities that would cover the maintainance,operating cost and servicing the debt for the stadium. If you have been watching “Champs” you will notice that the stadium is far from filled to capacity.In fact , I dont know of a single event ( since ’97, ’98 )where the stadium was filled to capacity.
I keep hearing even government ministers talking about sports tourism. Aint going to happen ! Just not feasible.
I understand all the excitement with the success in athletics,etc, but lets start thinking with our heads.
Come on guys!!!How many times do we use the stadium out of 365 days? we cannot use one event to justify the building of another stadium. There is one in Trelawny which is now a concert venue. Do not waste anymore tax payers money
I do agree our Stadium is fifty years old.and jamaica have so much going on in the sport.and with so much Talent in the country,why not used the tax from the lottery to build a new stadium,we can make so much off sport Tourism,we have wasted so much time,we have G.C Foster sport college we have so many trainers in Jamaica who train athetes and these young Men and young Ladies are brilliant why not give something back in there Honor,like what the Bahamas did for one of there former Athlete Tommy Robinson,
Jamaica is now a world leader in track and field.The same passion from CHAMPS from supporters of track and field is demonstrated when our athletes are doing well in the world champs and the olympics.There is enough evidence that track and field as a product can fill Jamaican staidiums as football do in the UK.Not to mention the many Jamaicans abroad who will gladly fly to Jamaica to watch athletics. We need better sporting facilities in Jamaica because we are a first world sporting nation.If we are to maintain our dominance we have to see sport as important enough as health ,education and employment.We should never forget that sports contribute in these three areas.
Okay, briefly.
1) We can design specific events each month that will attract international audiences that we can generate revenue from broadcast rights. These events will be trademarked as Jamaica events and fill specific slots within the annual sporting calendar. International sponsors will eventually come on board once we show them the potential for growth.
So just like you have the Jamaica Invitational, we can have several exhibition games featuring NBA teams from the East Coast other nearby cities. These games can be broadcast across the US. Profit share arrangements can also be worked out with the respective franchises. Tourist packages negotiated with hotels both on this side of the island and on the North Coast. Tours can be added to the packages so when games are not on they can see sections of the island via bus tours etc.
Other events that can be negotiated include Monster Truck events and X-Game type events that will attract the very best of the respective sports here in Jamaica. We can truck in tons of dirt for the occasions and once the stadium is designed to accommodate these events, several can be put on an annual calendar.
Of course, there will be the track meets etc that will also put their own audiences. In five years or so we could build a product-line of international events so strong we could pay for the stadium off the broadcast rights alone, with tour packages and gate receipts helping to pay for maintenance and staffing. The boxes could be sold off to international conglomerates who have an interest in Jamaican sports and who want to be a part of the events that can be staged there.
That is just the tip of the iceberg.
And that doesnt include hosting international soccer friendlies plus world cup qualifiers for the local team and regional competitions. Trelawny was not built with any vision, it was built for the world cup only and that was the mistake because of the short-sightedness of our leaders. We are thinking small and that is why we cant see the vast potential that lies within this country.
Instead of attacking each other, why don’t we try being positive and start submitting ideas on
A.How will we pay for this stadium/sport
village?
B.What would be the ideal location for this
stadium/sport village to best serve all
Jamaicans?
C.Management of the complex?
D.
E.
Lawerence,”So long as u ppl continue to think small and act small, that’s all u’ll be – SMALL.” Most Jamaicans think small because they’ve never left the island and go to more developed countries and see how the world really works. Most things in Jamaica u think is big development, comparitively its petti and mediocre. A stadium built 50 years ago anywhere in the world is considered out of context in today’s world. At the time da population of Kingston was under 100 000, now its more than trebled + nearby Portmore. We dont even have a world class indoor arena, we dont have a velodrome, Jamaica’s sports facility is shabby at best and needs urgent injection of capital and THOUGHT.
Levyl -
Yeah, there is such a big demand for monster truck events. The reality is, there is no “added value” for having a televised non-competitive event in Jamaica, and the cost of hosting any such event is prohibitive when you look at the potential returns.
Lets face it,outside of the hype during an NBA basketball finals, there is not much of an international audience for the sport, its just another domestic league. To the televison viewer, it doesnt matter much from where the event is being televised. A meaningless basketball game is just that, a meangingless basket game, whether it is in Jamaica or Timbuktu.
The argument for athletics is not much better, even if you say two international meets a year, that just two events in 12 months. Obviously, the contribution from gate receipts in Jamaica would be nothing compared to the European markets.
As much I would like to say that football would be a source of revenue, that too is not being realistic. When was the last time we made any money on a friendly? And we have hosted regional competition like the Caribbean Cup. Go look at the returns for that.
The idea that people are going to travel in droves to watch some meaningless event in Jamaica is silly at best. These “fans” in North America dont even travel from one city to the next.
Hey, I would love for this to work, but the numbers are not there. And most of the talk I keep hearing is all speculative. Some are even as dumb as the announcement by the former Minister of Sports that, “we are going to put a baseball diamond at the Trelawny stadium.” Not sure what the hell she was smoking.
LEvyl… What planet r u from? let me ask u how many dance aka concerts we have yearly? Instead of having most of them in a open field somewhere we keeeep them in a stadium. Y? It is easier to police the venue than to police some open field. A stadium is meant to host more than sporting events. We are a people of fun so lets set up private facilities that can respectfully host reggae events. After all this is our biggest claim to fame remember that guy bob marley? guys please lets think we are a brilliant people.
Every argument on a new stadium I think of the Aztec formula.The Govt. should provide the land and the stadium build in tares by the other investors.
The stadium needs to be refurbished. That’s the best option right now. Forget about all the bright ideas,as generating revenue will be a task in itself.As some already state,only once a year it gets filled.Less money to refurbish and it can’t be that much of a nightmare.Engineer spoke.As for footing the bill,that’s another matter.The condition of the facility now is deplorable,especially the bleachers. Left it some 30 yrs ago and it still in same condition.Wake up people.
Sport is a business now, by either redeveloping or building a new one creates jobs, you need people to build it and that takes time, people earn money and spend money in their community who spend again creating more jobs. It needs to be part of a wider strategy to develop an area which hosts other sports with plenty of seats. Events will bring people in, have a look at college bowls in the us they travel from everywhere as they do for the NFL pro bowl. The NBA is not just a domestic competition and the interest is worldwide. I am in Australia. If there is a special event people will travel, spend money and generate more jobs. If you don’t spend in infrastructure you don’t create a single job and here in australia did just that spending 50 billion in building new structures for schools, hospitals and community events to much criticism however it kept people working and spending.
Build a new stadium as Jamaica deserves it.
We really dont need another stadium unless it will come from the person or group of person that thought of the idea, pockets. We already have three which has been under utilized. Sista P LETS THINK WISELY. God has given you a second chance because he loves Jamaicans. Dont seek men ideas but seek God. let him guide your thoughts and action. You dont need no pastor or middle man. LET GOD LEAD YOU. And let the members of cabinet follow. crime is out of hand pray, fast, and not the typical prayer breakfast, go to your closet and seek the LORD face. I was there when you got the prophecy to be prime minister, Lascelle Chin too. I was clasified among the poor but when God says something he does it.You are a woman but God is strong, all powerful, mighty to the pulling down of strong hold. Free the Jamaican people from bondage,make a change. when the head of a country seek gods face and turn from their wicked ways, then God will heal their land. Bruce did a wonderful job you must continue to make wise decisions.
In 1962 when this said stadium was built da majority of da population were saying da same negative things. Look at da football clubs trying to get professional, look at da desperate state of their parks – They’re atrocious. We’re living in a 21st century world, Jamaica’s infrastructures r pathetic; just look at da drainage system of Kingston & St Andrew, da housing stock, transportation system. Da city does’nt even have enough well kept “green spaces” apart from Heroes Circle & Hope Gardens. No efficient garbage collection, local govt. null & void. And politicians r talking about transforming Jamaica into 1st world status by 2030 – dats SUPERFICIAL. Our athletes compete abroad in “state of da art facilities”, y cant they get one in their own country. Jamaicans need to travel abroad and get an insight into how “develop countries” operate.
In 1962 da population of Jamaica was under 1 million, today we’re bursting at da seams with close to 3 million and da diaspora another 3 – 4 million people. This year is our 50th anniversary of independence; do u seriously think that a venue of 30, 000 can satisfy da nation if there was to be a serious function at da nat. stadium? Da national stadium is a health & safety hazard, any attempt at refurbishment would be like “putting on clean clothes on dirty skin”. Furthermore from an engineering stand point its not feasible to extend (logistics nightmare)- da only answer is TOTAL DEMOLITION and erection of a brand new state of da art facility to fulfill da latest planning specifications of both FIFA and da IAAF. And if politicians r serious about “sports tourism”.
@Sophia, who is God? God is in me and u, God is not going to help any man who cant help himself. Ppl need to be practical, evryday ppl praying to God 4 help then sitting down and expect God to bring them deliverance. Its time ppl realise that God only helps da industrious – a man once ask Napoleon, “whose side is God on, in da war?” Napoleon said God is on da side of da strongest batallion.
Read, Marcus Garvey’s – More philosopies and Opinions.
Stadiums cannot be built in a vacuum. Stadia requires other enabling infrastructure that is woefully inadequate in Jamaica. Road networks, parking facilities, telecommunication, public transportation (bus, rail, air), a citizenry that sees the need to and voluntarily obeys the rule of law,economic growth sufficient in size to generates discretionary income to support spending on entertainment and sport. etc, etc.
keeping thinking small my friend. give us vision lest we perish. back in 1960 Jamaicans were against Norman Manley when he proposed Jamaica that Jamaica build a stadium so that the country could host I think it was the CAC Games. It took us almost 50 years to build another one. As it is the stadium that Jamaicans did not want built, has gone on to hos t World Juniors, Norman Manley Games and a host of other events.
I am not saying do not build stadiums. I am saying that the building of stadiums must be accompanied by the building of the the infrastructure that makes the use and maintenance of stadiums viable. I have been to the National stadium for a football match and spent 3hrs stuck in the parking lot after the match because most of the exit gates remained locked after the game, a female patron had parked blocking one the main exit gates and was nowhere to be found for an hour after the match, there was not enough police directing traffic, not enough roads to handle the volume of traffic, vendors were selling in the road further impeding the flow of traffic, most people drove to the match instead of taking public transportation, etc, etc. Then I went to a match at the Home Depot center in Los Angeles and discovered that things can be different.
@Errol: If ur a student of architecture and construction u wuld’ve seen da logics in infrastructural development.
Its only logical that if a town or city is to develop a stadia, it wuld only get planning permission if “related infrastructural development” is going to take place. E.g. demolish old 30 000 capacity fascility and erect a modern 2 teir 70 000 fascility wuld dfntly mean local improvement of transportation, hospitality (hotels, resturants, etc) car parks, differing mode of transportation, plumbing and drainage, and da list goes on.
I think latest spectator exit specification is 5 mins. da whole stadium could be covered. A stadium of such magnitude wuld provide valuable on da job practice 4 our local architecture, construction and civil engineering students. Jamaica needs big construction projects bcaus our students are not getting and practical experience in da field that is of worth. I’ve seen where Utech now have an architecture department – where is da practical scope locally for such students to advance?
That’s y I respect ex Mayor McEnzie bcaus he talks of a new stadium and clearance of da May Pen cemetary in da event of a tsunami – now that’s foresight.
Ppl our present stadium is a dilapisated monument withgrave health, sfety and fire hazard !!!!!!!
Whilst I agree that nations should be able to showcase their abilities the cost of stadiums are so inflated for some reason. When you look at the cost that we are paying here in the UK for hosting the Olympics and for stadiums that will never be used to their full capacity once the games are over and what happened to Greece once the games finished there and their stadiums now sitting rotting away. Once private money and governments start mixing there is always only one loser – The taxpayer and the people who are meant to benfit from the new stadiums.
Guys , we have to think out of the box here !!, I have read some of the comments regarding building a sports complex & museum in down town Kingston. I do think that would “not only be” a good Financial Benifit to the economy but “Great” Financial Benifits !!. This can be done by public-private parnership. The water front area would be perfect. Bringing not only local but international events. This would could lead to cafes,restaurants,hotels stores and even a marina being built.Have those “Rich Folks ” boat in” .That’s docking fees to the goverment , let them watch our athletes . “It takes money to make money”. I do think we would get back our returns $$$.Being in debt some times is not bad as long as we can generate the funds to service them . I DO HOPE OUR GOVERMENT OFFICIALS ARE READING OUR COMMENTS.