Tony Becca, Contributing Editor
Fans and players at Sabina Park during the first one-day international between West Indies and South Africa on May 7. - ANDREW SMITH/PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR
CRICKET FANS at the first two one day matches between the West Indies and South Africa at Sabina Park recently were full of praise for the outfield. According to them, Sabina Park was never ever like that before, and they were proud.
For those who were not there, the field was level north to south and east to west, but for a spot here and there, it was green green and lush, and according to the players, it was nice and comfortable so comfortable that it was wonderful running around on it.
CHALLENGE MET
"It was a challenge to finish it on time for those matches," said project manager Chris Smith. "Although we needed eight weeks to get it ready for the matches, we had only six, and it is a credit to the team, to the workers, that they were able, not only to get it done on time, but also that they did such a wonderful job."
The entire field, with the exception of the 'square' the four pitches, was dug up, pipes for the irrigation and drainage system were laid, four inches of gravel and then eight inches of sand were laid, it was levelled and rolled, and then grass was planted.
Was there no soil?
"Not at all," said Smith. "It was sand on gravel and then grass. Water, plenty water, is necessary in such a process, and although there is a well at Sabina Park, although we had the sprinklers on 24 hours, thank God, we had a lot of rain just when we needed it."
Is it completed is it now what it will be?
"Oh no," said Smith. "It will be better. It is still a work in progress. There are some weeds around, but that is no problem. We plan to use a special insecticide to get rid of that. There was one bad spot that we had to paint the ground green, and there are also a few spots that need filling out, but again, that is no problem. Over the next few weeks we will be filling those with sand, the grass will grow through the sand, and I tell you, it will be lovely when we are finished with it."
According to Smith, Sabina Park, the field and every where else, will be a thing of beauty in another year or so. After that, it is a simple matter of maintaining it.
In preparation for the World Cup matches to be played there in 2007, Sabina Park is being renovated, and based on the plans it will indeed be a lovely home for cricket and a wonderful place to watch cricket.
NEW REQUIREMENTS
The plan calls for a new-look Headley Stand, a new north stand, and a new Mound.
In the Headley Stand, the
lower level that is now used for such things as parking and changing rooms will become a main concourse with spectator amenities, seating will be added to the front of it, there will be a top-of-the line lounge, possibly to be known as the 'Club Lounge', and on the second floor will be VIP boxes.
The north stand, running from the present Air Jamaica Stand to the Mound and which, according to Smith, will be the Rolls Royce of all stands anywhere in the world, will accommodate general seating, club seating and suites, players, officials and the media, and the east stand, the original "grounds", will be replaced by
the Mound with an electronic scoreboard standing tall in the middle.
Athough there will be no major renovation for the members club, there will be some improvements there as well.
According to Smith, the members club has to fit in with the new style of Sabina Park, and it will receive a face-lift.
"You will no longer be able to look around Sabina Park and say, that is Kingston Club," said Smith. "It will be one look, one feel."
The ICC requirement for the World Cup is that Sabina Park seat at least 20,000 and that is what it will be.
After the World Cup, however, the capacity will only be 16,000 and in order to find the difference, there will be temporary seating between the Headley Stand and
the members' club for 4,000 spectators.
