Home|Sports|Extensive work at Thomas A. Robinson stadium to begin in NovemberSports
Simba FrenchSend an emailOctober 12, 2023 17 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email
Over the next two months, The Bahamas is set to host a CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football) Nations League game against Antigua and Barbuda, another one against Guyana in November, a CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup match, and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Bahamas Bowl game December 16, all at Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium. The hosting of those events may be in jeopardy as extensive work is set to start on the stadium on November 1.
Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg made that revelation yesterday during a Bahamas Football Association (BFA) press conference for the upcoming match for The Bahamas against Antigua and Barbuda. Bowleg also let it be known that they are in agreement with the Chinese government for extensive repairs.
“We have some serious work that is going to be starting on the stadium in January. I think in short order a decision is going to be made as it relates to the NCAA bowl game as whether that will be held here. I know we are in agreement with the Chinese government to commence some serious repairs, and that is supposed to start on November 1. Depending on when they come, along with the technocrats from the ministry of works, they will be able to determine that,” Bowleg said.
Bowleg alluded that to get the stadium up to par, it will cost $30 million, but to make it safe and presentable it will cost $10 million. However, with the Chinese government being involved in the repairs, Bowleg said that The Bahamas might not use the $10 million that was allocated.
“We were preparing the stadium for the world relays and CARIFTA in 2024, which will allow it to be presentable and safe enough,” Bowleg said. “That is what the $10 million was allocated for. However, the Chinese government is going to be coming, so The Bahamas might not use any of the $10 million. The Chinese government might end up funding the entire repairs, which will most likely happen. This was a gift to us. It is now up to them to do the repairs to a building that we felt was not up to proper standard from day one.”
As for the nature of the work that is set to begin on the stadium, Bowleg said they will be completely shutting down the Western Grandstand and will use the Eastern Grandstand to accommodate the CONCACAF Nations League game on Saturday.
“We know that we will not be dealing with the field, but definitely the Western Grandstand will be shut down. We will probably have to see how best we can use the Eastern Grandstand along with the field because most of the construction is going to start on the Eastern Grandstand. One of the first things they will do is take off these roofs. There is a way that we believe that we can work it out, but in some cases, other events we will have to cancel like the bowl game. It might not look too good with construction going on at the same time,” Bowleg said.
There is not a timeline for when the repairs will be completed but Bowleg knows that it needs to be ready for CARIFTA which is in Easter 2024 and the World Athletics World Relays which is May 4-5, 2024.
“I can’t say, but we can anticipate; but I know one thing, that it needs to be out the way for CARIFTA Swimming and the world relays,” Bowleg said. “The idea is that by March, they can be completed and get things out the way. There is a lot of equipment being ordered at this time for installation. It takes some time, but most things will come here already prepared and ready to be implemented. The most work that will be done is the removal of the roof, and once the roof and infrastructure comes, it is just a matter of putting it on. In my opinion, that will be the easiest part.”
The track at the stadium and the old stadium, both got restriped earlier this year.