World Cup Mecca in New Kingston
Published:Friday | June 11, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Patrina Pink, Gleaner Intern
LIKE A college student eager for a home-cooked meal, so have Jamaicans been hungry for the start World Cup. While the beautiful game has unpacked its suitcase for its one-month visit to South Africa, Jamaicans unable to make the journey to Johannesburg need not mourn.
Several Corporate Area companies are treating customers in creative ways. International Media Company (IMC), the parent company of SportsMax, is leading the charge.
The company bought the rights to host World Cup-branded events and will be transforming the old Super Plus building on Trafalgar Road in New Kingston into a football Mecca.
From June 22-July 11, the SportsMax Zone will be treating football fanatics to a swanky sporting restaurant. The centre will also show live and delayed coverage of games on a massive 216-inch television screen.
Regional manager for SportsMax, Tanya Lee, said its venture was unprecedented.
"We are going to have a cinema-sized broadcast of the games. The SportsMax Zone is the only place you can go in the entire Caribbean to watch the World Cup in high definition."
The zone will feature a gaming station, video and entertainment booths and a special Voltaren-sponsored massage centre for athletes.
In a partnership with Supreme Ventures, fans will have an opportunity to place their bets on their favourite teams. Diehards can also purchase jerseys at the zone's Locker Store.
Lee cautioned persons against attending illegally branded World Cup parties.
"Our parent company, IMC, purchased the rights to the TV broadcast, as well as closed-circuit rights for the 2010 World Cup.
"IMC will hold any channel or entity engaging in unauthorised broadcast of the World Cup in breach of its rights and will seek damages to the fullest extent of the law," she said.