Williams expects better JPL fan turnout at Sabina Park
Published:Saturday | March 12, 2022 | 12:07 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
After a low fan turnout at the Drax Hall Sports Complex in St Ann for the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) two weeks ago, Professional Football Jamaica Limited Chairman Christopher Williams says that an improved ticketing process will help to drive numbers as the league welcomes local fans to Sabina Park this weekend.
For the next two weekends, the JPL will have all their matches played with fully vaccinated supporters at Sabina Park in their second attempt at getting local fans back to matches. Today’s fixtures at Sabina Park are Waterhouse versus Tivoli Gardens at 3 p.m. and Harbour View versus Vere United at 5:15 p.m.
Matchweek seven saw the fans return for the first time in over a year at Drax Hall but saw low support over the weekend. Last week’s matches were moved back to the UWI-JFF Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence where the majority of matches have been played so far this season and Williams says that with the move from the online portal to a more direct model with vaccination card proof, they should see a better crowd showing.
EASIER PROCESS
“The biggest challenge at Drax Hall was the purchasing of the tickets online. So we were able to adjust and address that by allowing fans to now come to the gate with their vaccination cards and their government-issued ID. And we will validate them and they can just walk in. So that is a way easier process and that is the big change and we are extremely grateful for that,” Williams told The Gleaner. “Now we look forward to that helping us to drive ticket sales.”
With a much bigger venue booked to continue the fans’ integration back into the local top flight, Williams says that he is targeting at minimum 609 persons attending the entire weekend to offset their incremental costs for the venue. Williams hopes that it will be the catalyst for the Government to continue the process of easing restrictions for more fans to attend and eventually for the community-based venues to be used.
“ There is no question if the trajectory of the disease continues, then the Government will give us more and more support. So we are on a great path towards normality and moving forward. We have already committed to back-to-back weekends (at Sabina) because the trajectory of the disease is very encouraging,” Williams said. “The Government does not want to limit the fans only to the vaccinated. They want to open up access to Jamaica.”