Centralised JPL venues to remain
More club venues to be involved in the process
Published:Wednesday | August 17, 2022 | 12:10 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
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PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL Jamaica Limited (PFJL) chairman Christopher Williams says that while his organisation is intent on continuing to use centralised venues for the upcoming Jamaica Premier League (JPL) season, it is also keen to involve more of...
PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL Jamaica Limited (PFJL) chairman Christopher Williams says that while his organisation is intent on continuing to use centralised venues for the upcoming Jamaica Premier League (JPL) season, it is also keen to involve more of the clubs’ home venues for increased support and league marketability.
The 2022-23 season is scheduled to start in October, hoping to capitalise on last season’s success which saw the return of fans to centralised venues such as the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex and Sabina Park, which hosted the play-offs and the final.
With the league’s expansion to 14 teams and relegation expected to return, Williams said a centralised structure will continue, although that should also involve more of the club-based venues.
“We are keeping the formula and the teams have agreed to keep the formula. The reality is that some club venues are very attractive venues. If you want a venue that is built for football and can generate that type of energy that we want, then you are going to end up at some of the club venues,” Williams told The Gleaner.
“We are seeking to utilise as many of the club venues as possible, not specifically because we want to give the clubs (back the games) but it makes commercial sense to spread the game around and balance the pressure on any particular demographic.”
2021 SEASON VENUES
The majority of the 2021 season was played at the UWI-JFF Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence as well as part of the 2022 season in keeping with the approvals granted under the Disaster Risk Management Act, the measure used to combat the COVID-19 pandemic locally.
With the act rescinded, Williams says that the PFJL is looking to its own criteria in determining suitable venues which will also be dependent on the finalising of the fixture list in order to decide on which venues are selected.
“The fixtures are something we have to work very closely with the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) on because we want to ensure that we place the right matchups at the right venues to ensure maximum commercial value. It is a very delicate balancing act that we are going through right now to deal with the fixtures and venue selections but it is progressing nicely and I am very optimistic about that.”
JFF vice president Raymond Anderson says the fixtures should be released in a week with the details of the start of the season to be finalised by the board.
The PFJL is targeting an October 23 start.
Williams and Anderson both confirmed that the two-round format of the competition with remain in place with Anderson saying there are plans being finalised for a knockout competition involving tier one and two clubs that will take place during the season.