PSOJ calls for national strategy on facilities

With Jamaica’s sporting ambitions outpacing its infrastructure, the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) is calling for a national strategy to transform sports facilities into long-term assets capable of attracting investment, creating jobs, and boosting tourism.

Through its Sports and Entertainment Development Committee (SEDC), the PSOJ wants Jamaica to adopt a more coordinated approach to sports infrastructure rather than addressing facilities and events on a case-by-case basis.

The call comes as local sporting organisations, particularly football clubs, continue to spend heavily to bring their facilities up to international standards.

Several Jamaica Premier League (JPL) clubs are investing millions of dollars to upgrade their grounds to meet Concacaf requirements and qualify to host international matches.

Currently, only two venues in Jamaica, the National Stadium and Sabina Park, are approved by Concacaf.

The need for those upgrades was highlighted recently when Portmore United had to travel to Trinidad and Tobago to play a Caribbean Cup match it was scheduled to host.

Portmore chairman Garwin Tulloch said the club spent more than $8 million on travel and accommodation because no Concacaf-approved facility was available in Jamaica.

For the PSOJ, that situation illustrates a much broader problem.

It argues that Jamaica needs to move away from an approach focused mainly on preparing facilities for individual events and instead develop a national plan that links sports infrastructure with investment, tourism, entertainment, and employment.

“The conversation cannot only be about how we fund sports,” the SEDC said.

“We must also be asking how we create the policy, investment, and data environment that allows Jamaica’s sports and entertainment infrastructure to become sustainable economic assets.”

A key part of the proposal is a national assessment of Jamaica’s major sporting facilities to identify the biggest gaps and determine what is needed to bring them up to international standards.

The assessment would examine the cost of upgrades, potential funding sources, available skills and labour, possible revenue streams, and opportunities for private-sector investment.

The committee believes that having that information in one place would help the Government, sporting organisations, and investors make better-informed decisions about where resources should be directed.

The timing of the proposal is also significant as Jamaica prepares to co-host the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup alongside the United States, Mexico, and Costa Rica.

A major element of those preparations is the redevelopment of the National Stadium, which is expected to be completed in 2029.

The PSOJ said the World Cup should not simply become a target date for stadium upgrades.

Instead, it said the tournament should serve as a catalyst for strengthening Jamaica’s capacity to host international sporting and entertainment events well beyond 2031.

“2031 should not be viewed simply as a deadline by which Jamaica must be ready to host a major tournament,” the SEDC said.

“It should be used as a catalyst to build capabilities and commercial models that will serve the country for decades thereafter.”

CLEARER PICTURE

The committee is also calling for more reliable data on the economic impact of sports in Jamaica.

A proposed pilot study would examine areas such as attendance, visitor spending, hotel occupancy, employment, local business activity, and foreign-exchange earnings.

The PSOJ believes Jamaican football clubs are already demonstrating a willingness to invest.

Arnett Gardens, Montego Bay United, and Cavalier are among the clubs upgrading their facilities to meet Concacaf standards.

However, the PSOJ said these efforts should form part of a broader vision for the sector.

“The legacy we should pursue is bigger than upgraded stadiums,” the SEDC said.

“It should include stronger Jamaican businesses, skilled workers, commercially sustainable venues, increased visitor expenditure, and an ecosystem capable of attracting and successfully delivering international events long after 2031.”

gregory.bryce@gleanerjm.com