MONTEGO BAY, St James — Tuesday’s inking of a $700-million private sector-led plan to transform Montego Bay Sports Complex into a multisport facility is being hailed as a stepping stone to a thriving sports tourism sector within the western resort city.

Montego Bay Multisports Development Limited, chaired by businessman Yoni Epstein, has entered into a 25-year lease agreement with St James Municipal Corporation for control of the facility.

As outlined under conditions of the lease, changes will include a boost in seating capacity to 12,000 from the current 7,000, restoration of the running track and football field, the addition of an Olympic-sized swimming pool, as well as areas for racquet sports.

Epstein and Mayor of Montego Bay Richard Vernon believe these grand plans will play a vital role in boosting sports tourism.

“One of the things that I’ve seen over the last couple of years… on the football side of things, there are — particularly Europeans, English, and Germans — that are coming out of the hotels to matches, and that’s not even marketed properly yet,” Epstein told reporters during Tuesday’s signing ceremony.

“When you look at Jamaica, and Montego Bay specifically, how close we are to North America, there are already conversations in play with some of the sponsors and vendors that we work with to do the tournaments or meets or whatever here,” he explained.

He told the Jamaica Observer that talks are under way with an overseas football club but promised details at a later date.

“I would say that very shortly from now we will be hosting another press conference because, on the football side of things, we have signed a development agreement where we are the only development club in the western hemisphere to partner with this international club. With that partnership we will see a lot of those types of things coming to Jamaica,” Epstein said.

He was confident that the parish, and the country on a whole, can benefit because the infrastructure needed to complement the development of sports tourism is already in place.

“You have the room stock; you have the airlift; you’ll have the facility; and you have the sun, the sea, and the sand and the people, absolutely,” he declared.

Mayor Vernon also touted the potential for the rise of sports tourism in St James and stressed the benefits that Montego Bay has on offer.

“This is the number one city in the Caribbean where hospitality is concerned and for other things. We are definitely going to leverage our unique position as the number one city,” he declared.

“[We have] the largest airport in the English-speaking Caribbean and 30 per cent of all the rooms in the country and more to come; sports tourism will be a reality,” the mayor insisted.

He outlined the role of the St James Municipal Corporation in securing partnerships that will bring sports events to the city.

“We will be working with clubs in Jamaica and international clubs to see how best we can galvanise the support, as well as harnessing that within the space so that we can create more opportunities for people,” Vernon said.

“Once you start to get in the talents, growing the local talents, and importing the international and regional talent within the space, then comes the support for those teams, and the rooms must be made available,” he added.

There is expected to be a noticeable transformation of the complex over the next five years in line with the timeline given to the lessees to bring the facility up to the standards outlined.

Work is expected to begin immediately with cleaning of the space, and active football is expected to resume within six to eight months. Improvements in other areas will be carried out at the same time as they aim for the five-year target.