Monday night game coming to Red Stripe NPL

Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

Monday night Red Stripe National Premier League football is set to become a reality as the Premier League Clubs (PLCA) and Red Stripe, newly acquired title sponsors of the top football championship here, are currently ironing out the details to extend the playing days.

Edward Seaga, chairman of the PLCA, said his organisation was exploring the options of staging one game per month on a Monday.

"We are going to try it," said Seaga in an interview with The Gleaner, following Red Stripe's announcement of their three-year title sponsorship of the NPL, during a press conference at the Spanish Court Hotel yesterday.

"It could be a good thing from what the figures say about potential audience, and as far as we are concerned we are going to look at it very seriously," Seaga said.

"It would have to be one game per month because the others (games) are on Sunday and we can't have two games for the week, and we can't abandon Sunday games," said Seaga, who is also the president of the NPL champion club Tivoli Gardens. "We will have to take out one of the Sunday games and make it into a Monday night game."

Continuing, Seaga added: "We can also take advantage of the fact that on a Monday night there are a lot more spectators at home that have nothing to do in sports and, therefore, is a good time to have a game."

Jomo Cato, head of marketing of Red Stripe, said his organisation welcomes the move because it fits into their marketing strategy and intent to profit from television broadcasting, and will help to attract a lot more spectators to the game.

"We think it will be another opportunity for us to bring something fresh and innovative to football," Cato said.

"It think it will also be a big boost for the fans because we also want to lift the experience that they have at games, and also have them view the games if they are at home."