That national stadium debate

Over the past two months, there have been several pronouncements on whether or not this country of ours is in need of a national stadium.

Much was ventilated in print and on the electronic media as to the choices — a full-fledged facility with all the trappings, called a national stadium, or a facility which can house both track and field and football.{{more}}

Whichever side one takes, St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) needs to have a facility which can host regional track and field meets and a proper facility which can better host regional and international football matches.

This is so, as the cost of building and more so maintaining a national stadium is stacked against us. As it stands, it is only those territories in the region with links to friendly governments which are likely to procure a national stadium. This, though, may come at a price for SVG, which may have to take a roundabout stance by switching allegiance from long-standing allies.

Internationally too, only those countries which are bidding to host major athletics and football competitions are pursuing the building of stadiums.

But, there is compelling evidence that having a national stadium and taking care of its daily operational costs is a great challenge for others in the region.

Larger territories, such as Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and Jamaica, have testimonial proof that such undertakings are not cheap. But one need not go that far, as the main Arnos Vale Playing Field provides us with the reality checks.

That facility saw an upgrade in 2006 to facilitate the hosting of some warm-up matches ahead of the Caribbean hosting the Cricket World Cup in 2007.

Among the additions was the erection of a double-decker pavilion, which can house over 5,000 patrons.

Except for the third One Day International cricket match between the West Indies and Australia back in 2012, when the ground would have seen its largest crowd, that pavilion is yet to serve its purpose.

In fact, it has emerged as a bug–bear, as it is providing more problems than solutions for the National Sports Council, under whose aegis Arnos Vale Playing Field falls.

Therefore, in building large edifices which need to be cared for in small economies such as ours and with an equally small population to add to the mix, we are beginning from back of the field.

More so, the world is forever changing and the demands at sporting facilities are shifting towards more frolicking and a leisure type setting.

Modern stadia around the world are now moving towards fewer seats and more grass banks, mounds and the like.

Then, those persons in St Vincent and the Grenadines who are advocates for a national stadium may also have to think again, as their visual concepts may have to be rearranged.

Whilst there must be healthy discussions to weigh the circumstances towards the realization of a national stadium to one day come as a blessing to Vincentians, the answer should have come a long time ago.

The fact that the authorities for some time now have given permission to the local automobile association to place a dirt track at the proposed site for the national stadium is a cue that the stadium in not forthcoming in the foreseeable future.

This was after a stadium committee was set up, there was a ground breaking ceremony, along with the architectural designs, and the establishment of an office at the Administrative Centre at the Arnos Vale Playing Field.

In addition, the sum of US$1.5 million was said to have been received from the late Libyan leader – Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, towards feasibility works for the said national stadium.

Sadly though, the matter of a national stadium for SVG only takes prominence during the electioneering period, which gives rise to the belief that it is merely a political stunt to gain votes one way or the other.

The current Unity Labour Party administration has championed the erection of a stadium, shifting it from the front burner to the back burner and back, with crafty timing.

Maybe, the issue of whether or not SVG is ready to take on the challenge of caring for a national stadium or something as basic as an athletics facility should be part of a wider national conversation.

What is certain, however, is that SVG needs a multi-use facility for track and field and football, which consume the largest participation.