Two hospitality lounges, fan zones and media suites with TV studio will be built

Durrant Pate/Contributor

Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sports Minister, Olivia Grange, has outlined the final plans for the redeveloped National Stadium in parliament earlier this afternoon.

This is being done under the ministry’s “The Next Level” platform, which requires new and updated infrastructure to keep pace with a forever-changing world, of which the redevelopment of the National Stadium is an important project. The government has already completed the feasibility study, concept design and is now entering into the detailed design stage. 

“Today I reveal the latest rendering of the new, modern National Stadium. The new facility will not only enhance the performance of our athletes but will also significantly change the ways in which we interact with and enjoy sports and entertainment events at the National Stadium. We will increase seating capacity to 37,500 with roof coverage and shade for every seat. There will be improved views from every seat,” Grange said in her Sectoral Debate contribution. 

Details about works to be done

The seats move closer to the action and improve safety for everyone. The concert capacity with people not only in the stands, but on the field, will be 50,000. Additionally, the new National Stadium will have 30 boxes — two of which will be VIP boxes. There will be two hospitality lounges, a fan boulevard, and two fan zones.

In addition, meeting accommodation and dedicated media suites with a TV studio, broadcast facilities and a venue operations centre will be added. According to Minister Grange, “this is a once-in-a-lifetime redevelopment and so I’ve taken the chance to do as much as we can as we move to the Next Level. I’m pleased today to announce that we will also construct two well-needed facilities during this redevelopment.”

The first is a new Sports Hall which will be a flexible multisport, multi-use, naturally ventilated facility for training and also competition. The administration is also constructing a Throws Area, which will facilitate training in the shot put, discus, hammer, and javelin. The Throws Area will incorporate shelters for when athletes are resting and will provide easy access to the Sports Hall, gym and changing facilities. 

At the Next Level, Jamaica will not only dominate the track, but with sustained support and facilitation, intend to also dominate field events. The new Sports Hall and Throws Area will be adjacent to Stadium East, which will also benefit from upgrades under this redevelopment programme. 

As part of the work, Stadium East will become a 4,000-seat capacity venue with a track and field set-up, which will be similar to the main stadium. Stadium East will continue to be a training venue, a warm-up facility, and the place of choice, especially for development meets and small events. 

Jamaica selected to co-host 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup

The new facilities will be Green Guide compliant, as well as FIFA compliant and World Athletics compliant. “This is Next Level stuff,” she added, announcing that Jamaica has achieved a major milestone in women’s football, having been selected to cohost the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup, alongside the United States of America, Costa Rica, and Mexico. 

In conclusion, Minister Grange remarked, “This comes at the right time to allow us to host the tournament in our re-developed National Stadium — a world-class facility, duly retrofitted and ready to accommodate the world’s best women football players.”