State of readiness of World Cup group venues
World Cup: Factbox on the four stadiums staging the World Cup group
matches (March 13-25) and their state of readiness:
Jamaica
Sabina Park, Kingston
Capacity - 21,000
Matches - Group D and first semi-final.
Still to be done: The ground’s renovations have largely been finished
in the nick of time but the net pitches were still not up to scratch on
the eve of the World Cup opener there forcing Pakistan and West Indies
to practise elsewhere.
Major upgrade to venue which hosted first test in 1930 and first
one-day international in 1984.
Sabina Park, the home of the Kingston Cricket Club, is situated in
the driest part of Kingston and for many years the pitch was one of the
hardest and fastest in the Caribbean.
But in recent years the surface slowed, despite attempts to restore
life by relaying it on more than one occasion.
Like other major grounds in the region it underwent a major
renovation ahead of the World Cup, a process that was fraught with
headaches and delays.
The capacity was raised from 15,000 to 20,000, still 5,000 less than
the Trelawny Stadium down the coast.
St Kitts
Stadium: Warner Park, Basseterre
Capacity: 10,000.
Matches: Group A
Still to be done: Everything will be ready for Wednesday’s first
match. Scaffolding still on one temporary stand on Sunday and
advertising hoardings were being set up during the opening ceremony.
The ground was donated to the people of St Kitts and Nevis by a
plantation family and named after Sir Thomas Warner, founder of the
first English settlement in the Caribbean.
Cricket was first played at the ground in 1928 but it has been
completely renovated for the World Cup.
Work was completed in May, 2006, and the stadium hosted its first
one-day international in the same month.
It is situated in the centre of the capital Basseterre.
Trinidad
Stadium: Queens Park Oval, Port-of-Spain
Capacity: 25,000
Matches: Group B (five matches), Group A (one match)
Still to be done: Paintwork on various overlayed cosmetic features,
minor masonry, final details in hospitality suites.
Along with the Savannah, the Oval is Port-of-Spain’s cultural calling
card.
The ground has been the home of the Queens Park Cricket Club since
1896, which is also the year the club built its pavilion.
Unlike most major grounds in the Caribbean, the Oval usually turns a
profit because of the fact that it has the largest spectator capacity of
any ground in the region.
Its location in the heart of a bustling city could lead to problems
with traffic during the World Cup.
St Lucia Stadium: Beausejour
Cricket Ground, Gros Islet
Capacity: 20,000 in all with temporary stands adding to the existing
12,000 seats. Matches: Group C and second semi-final
Still to be done: Stadium and temporary stands ready, a few finishing
touches being applied along with gravel on external car park. Completed
in 2002, the stadium is purpose-built and is situated away from the town
to allow for ample parking and future extensions. One narrow lane leads
down to the ground however, and could cause traffic problems. |