From rxpgnews.com
'Floodlights a must if stadiums are to be profitable'
By IANS,
Apr 14, 2007 - 12:24:25 PM
St. George's -, April 14 - Don Lockerbie, venue development director of the World Cup, has advised Caribbean governments to ensure floodlights are installed at stadiums throughout the region so that the profitability of these venues can be maximised after the tournament ends.
Currently, only the Beausejour Cricket Ground in St Lucia and the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in Antigua -- both of which hosted first round, World Cup matches -- have been equipped with floodlights.
'The thing that all the venues need to do is get stadium lights,' said Lockerbie.
'Stadium lights for the future should be the next phase for every stadium possible because that's going to help with night cricket, it's going to help with concerts, that's going to help with other trade shows and special events, such as church events, could take place.
'I highly urge the governments from the region that didn't have to put in lights because World Cup doesn't have any day/night matches, to look at phase two in their venues and make sure that all of the features are finished. Lights would be great.'
A major focus of World Cup organisers has been on how the stadiums throughout the Caribbean would be utilised following the tournament.
With venues in the nine host nations being either built or refurbished at a combined cost of over US $300 million, the Local Organising Committee and respective governments have already been examining the legacy element.
The World Cup's legacy committee recently drafted a 14-point report containing proposals aimed at helping governments recoup the money invested in stadiums for the tournament.
The report was handed over this week by West Indies Cricket Board president, Ken Gordon, to Grenada's Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell, chairman of CARICOM's Prime-Ministerial sub-committee on cricket,
Lockerbie said apart from lighting, the Caribbean authorities needed to ensure all external work was completed and a management structure put in place to set out a vision for the venues.
'They must make sure all of the pavements are finished, make sure with all the temporary power that we put it in, that all the legacy power is in place,' Lockerbie pointed out.
'And put in place a stadium management group in each stadium that have a goal and an objective to actually make revenue for these stadiums so they are maintained well and that they don't have trouble maintaining their efficiency and excellence.'
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