Consultations completed for National Stadium redevelopment

Work to renovate the National Stadium could commence in the new year, as Apec Consultants, the company contracted by the Government to research the redevelopment of the facility, is preparing a final report to be presented to the Minister of Sport, Olivia Grange, and the board of Independence Park Limited (IPL).

Major Desmon Brown, the General Manager of IPL, told The Gleaner that the consultation process was delayed from October to the end of this month in order to factor technology in the redevelopment plans. However, according to him, all the necessary consultations have now taken place.

“The consultation process was extended because a number of things came up like the technology that is required for track and field now and also during the summer a lot of the stakeholders were not here (in Jamaica), so they didn’t get a chance to have any consultation,” Brown said.

Consultations finished

“They finished all the consultations and are preparing the final report now to present to the board of the IPL and the Minister of Sport, and a copy will be sent to the Ministry of Finance,” Brown said.

Apec Consultants will also outline the cost of the renovation project to the Government, which will then decide on a start date for the project.

According to Brown, the Government will also determine how long the renovation of the facility will take.

The National Stadium redevelopment plans include the removal of the velodrome and the addition of 10,000 seats, state-of-the-art anti-doping facilities, covering for most of the facility, updated Royal Box and upgraded media facilities.