EDITORIAL - Address parking at Sabina, too

Letter writer Colin Wheeler has asked a pertinent question in The Gleaner (April 4, 2014) about facilities at Jamaica's premier cricketing ground: What about parking at Sabina Park?

The lack of lights at Sabina Park has long been a source of embarrassment for Jamaica. This was highlighted in 2013 during the inaugural staging of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) T20s, with Jamaica being the only one of six tournament venues without lights to facilitate day-night matches.

Now, the government of India has stepped in to save Jamaica from further embarrassment by providing a US$2-million grant towards erecting lights at the venue this year. Those who run cricket in Jamaica, including the newly elected president of the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA), Billy Heaven, and its contractors have promised that there will be lights for this summer's staging of the CPL.

Meanwhile, de facto Sports Minister Natalie Neita-Headley was a bit more cautious in her approach. She stated that "even if we do not make it for this CPL, it will be good for Jamaica". The minister obviously does not believe that it can be done, but the implications for Jamaica could include significant loss of revenue.

Look for unforgettable experience

Today, with the advent of slick plasma television screens, a fan can get close to sporting action from the confines of his living room or even from a sports bar packed with raucous fans. However, the diehard will attest that nothing replaces being in on the action, watching from the stands.

From the moment a spectator arrives at the sporting venue until the teams leave the field, he expects to have an unforgettable experience. But before the patron even gets to his seat at Sabina, he is challenged to find reliable parking. There are a few parking spaces for members and their special guests, but the rest must rely on the neighbourhood hustlers who collect fees from patrons so they can park their vehicles on mostly derelict properties in the area. This is an untenable situation, which has been allowed to persist for far too long.

It is a fact that cricket fans have been dwindling in Jamaica, but that is no excuse to ignore the nightmarish challenges that parking presents and the congestion created in the vicinity of Sabina Park when there is a match. There appears to be zero interest on the part of Sabina Park interests to ensure safe, comfortable parking for the majority of its patrons.

Sabina Park has come a long way since the days of those rickety wooden stands. And a number of soft services such as catering, cleaning and security have been significantly improved. Inside the park, one will soon be captivated by the ambience and the atmosphere created by colourful fans. There is definitely old-world charm and nostalgia at Sabina Park. And lovers of the sport know that nostalgia plays a huge role in the game of cricket. But there comes a point when nostalgia and colour cannot outweigh the fact that fans do not have access to proper parking options.

The Government of Jamaica spent US$100 million on renovations for Sabina to host the 2007 World Cup. The jury is still out on whether the country got value for money from that expenditure. And there are still many unanswered questions about that investment. So where will Sabina Park Holdings get the funds to acquire land to address the parking deficiency? Sabina Park Holdings should be fine-tuning its business plan to deal with this issue. Last year's bumper crowd, which turned out for the CPL, may stay away if this is not addressed. We appeal to Sabina Park Holdings and the JCA not to drive away the fans from Sabina Park - again!

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