Sun | Oct 5, 2025

JPL moves to the Jungle

Published:Saturday | April 9, 2022 | 12:09 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
Jamaica’s Tyreek Magee attempts to beat Dominica’s Jolly Fitz during a Concacaf Under-23 qualifier at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex on Wednesday July 17, 2019.
Jamaica’s Tyreek Magee attempts to beat Dominica’s Jolly Fitz during a Concacaf Under-23 qualifier at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex on Wednesday July 17, 2019.
PFJL Chairman Christopher Williams
PFJL Chairman Christopher Williams
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Since the relaxing of the Disaster Risk Management Act (DRMA), the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) has been breaking even financially, Professional Football Jamaica Limited (PFJL) chairman Christopher Williams has revealed, and he expects the league to reach fever-pitch levels when they go into Arnett Gardens at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex this weekend.

This weekend will also see a return to live televised games after no games were broadcast live last weekend.

However, Williams said creating an exciting face-to-face experience and extensive broadcast are critical components of the product and he is positive Arnett Gardens will provide opportunities for both.

“It is important that we find the balance between the two. We cannot abandon the broadcast. The television broadcast is critical to the long-term growth of the revenue market.

“To find the balance between the two, we have to carry the broadcast games into the communities. It is perfect to bring the football closer to the community and have it in a concentrated manner which will allow us to execute a broadcast product and a face-to-face friendly product,” he said.

Williams said the lifting of the DRMA was a blessing, and they are now looking to grow the league stronger financially and as a product.

“We have broken even at our weekends since the lifting of the DRMA. It’s a huge relief because it gives us an opportunity to take the pressure off the league and find funding to subsidise the league.

“That will make the league more sustainable and give us a model of the long-term future. It has been a shot in the arm for the Jamaica Premier League and the response from our fans has been phenomenal.

“We expect to break all records this weekend, as we return to the ‘Jungle’ (Arnett Gardens) with the football at an exciting level,” he said.

So far this season, the league has graced community venues such as Drax Hall, Wespow Park, and now Arnett Gardens, where they will be for the next two weekends.

However, Williams said they intend to increase their community venue options and are looking to go into Clarendon, the parish of Humble Lion and Vere, next.

“We have some nice things planned, especially for Clarendon. Things will get phenomenally better with the fans as a backdrop to the games. “Over the last two weekends, the fan support has been tremendous but this one will be epic. The community has not had football so close for a while and I know they can’t wait and I think we will have a sold- out venue,” he commented.

Meanwhile, Williams explained why there were no televised games last weekend. He said the PFJL had not provided the league broadcaster, SportsMax, with the venue and match for broadcast in time for the weekend, as a result the games were not aired.

However, that has been sorted out and they return to regular broadcasting this weekend.

“We have a requirement as per contract to deliver the venue to the broadcast partners within a certain number of days before the broadcast and we were not able to achieve that.

“The good news is that we have satisfied the requirements and have given them the venues and fixture for the remainder of the season, so that issue is behind us,” he stated.

Tomorrow at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex, Tivoli Gardens will play Humble Lion at 3 p.m. and Arnett Gardens entertain Portmore at 5:15 p.m. On Monday, Harbour View oppose Mount Pleasant at 5 p.m. and Waterhouse meet Cavalier at 7:30 p.m.

The other games on Sunday will see Montego Bay United taking on Dunbeholden at Wespow Park and Vere United facing Molynes United at the UWI-Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence. Both games start at 3 p.m.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com