While optimistic of more international cricket returning to the island, recently elected president of the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) Dr Donovan Bennett says football will continue to be hosted at Sabina Park because it brings in revenue.

The West Indies senior men’s team returned to Jamaican soil for the first time since 2022 when they beat visitors South Africa 3-0 in their Twenty20 series ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and the United States.

Regarded as a cricketing mecca, Sabina Park over the last two years has hosted a number of football events, including the Wray & Nephew Jamaica Premier League and Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association football competitions.

The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) has also utilised the venue, hosting international matches involving the Reggae Boyz and Reggae Girlz.

Due to that fact and the absence of international cricket as well as the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) T20, some have referred to Sabina Park as mainly a football stadium these.

But Bennett, who began his presidency in April, told the Jamaica Observer that he has no issues with football being played at Sabina Park and will continue to welcome matches in the future.

“I don’t think we can do without the football because we have to keep the park and to keep the park, we have to make an income. The park is partially owned by the JCA and Kingston Cricket Club, so we’re cognisant of the fact that the park has to be maintained so that is why we have football being played there. There’s just no option at this time,” he said.

“I think everybody benefits; the football associations have a venue that they feel comfortable with. It probably costs a little bit less than the [National] Stadium, which is why they may be using it. And we’re grateful because the income is significant because it allows some leg room to maintain the park.

Bennett said he will have conversations with the Dr Kishore Shallow-led Cricket West Indies board of directors about having more international cricket in Jamaica but noted that doesn’t mean football will be thrown out of the park.

“Even if we had cricket internationals and if it’s to be staged around the Caribbean, you couldn’t hope to get more than two or three matches, maybe four if you’re lucky so what happens for the rest of the year? We have to keep the park and we have to use it. I’m not worried about it, in fact, I’m grateful that football is played there because like I said, it gives us an income so we can keep the park in good shape,” Bennett added.

While the financial benefits that football games as well as entertainment events bring to Sabina Park, Bennett believes more income can be generated in the coming years if specific plans are implemented successfully.

“We do have some exciting proposals on the table right now but they’re embryonic, so I wouldn’t want to share them but you might very well find there’s outside interest in Sabina Park and arrangements will be made which will allow the park to be in much better shape than it is right now. But I won’t say anything until there’s something definitive to say,” he said.

Bennett, though, says a greater marketing effort will be made to push local cricket events such as the regional four-day tournament and the local Senior Cup competition.

“There was nothing happening in terms of cricket promotions because matches were being played at Sabina Park, first-class games and the general population didn’t know about it,” he said.

“We have a team now, a team of communication experts, the president of the St Mary Cricket Association [Ian Spencer] and Keith Campbell are both board members, so they’re now handling our promotions and communications to the general public, so you will see a great improvement in that area.

“We’ve been delinquent with our communication with the outside world but we’re fixing that. These guys have done a lot of work and I know that going forward, we should see an increase in participation by people when we have cricket matches at Sabina,” Bennett promised.