Jamaica Gets Thumbs-up From Spectators

Tue, Mar 13, '07

 

From MICHELLE McDONALD at Sabina Park

With many changes to how spectators would access the new Sabina Park for the first match in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007, CaribbeanCricket.com went roving the various access points to get their feedback. The gates opened at 7:30am, giving patrons sufficient time to go through the many checks required for an event of this nature. From all reports, things have gone smoothly.

For those of you who know Jamaica, South Camp Road has been cordoned off at its intersection with Deanery Road by the Jessie Ripoll Primary School to the North, and North Street to the South. Several 'Park & Ride' and 'Park & Walk' locations have been set up, allowing those coming to the matches to have adequate and secure parking.

CaribbeanCricket.com's first stop was the Spectator Processing Area located to the North on South Camp Road.

Michelle, who has been coming to the Mound for many years, opted not to use any of the 'Park & Ride' facilities. "We parked in a little shop up the road," she said after coming through the turnstiles. She rated the spectator processing as very good. "Very quick and good. We walked it down. It was excellent. Everybody said 'good morning' which was pleasant – both Volunteers and Security. They said 'good morning, have a good day, enjoy the game'. Excellent," Michelle added. Does she think visitors will have a good time? "Yeah mon, I'm impressed," she said with that distinctive Jamaican accent.

"Fantastic" is how Stanley, a Jamaican visiting from England, described what he experienced to get into the venue. "I parked at the Stadium and took the shuttle. It wasn't too far to walk," he said, adding that it was good exercise "especially for my size and my age!" The Londoner came especially for the CWC and is sure about attending today's and Friday's matches. Oops, Stanley must have got the days mixed up since there is no match on Friday at Sabina Park.

Julian was dropped off at Jessie Ripoll Primary School. "My husband dropped me on a bike," she said. For her, the walk down was "not too long although the sun is hot, but it was ok because a lot of persons were walking down." She's a returning spectator to Sabina Park so knows her way around.

"So far, so good. We look like we mean business," said a pleased Oliver. "I'm excited to see this happening, taking place in Jamaica and producing such a world class event," he added, saying that the walk down from Up Park Camp was convenient. "I'm impressed with what I am seeing so far," Oliver said.

Over at the North Street entrance, which took spectators through the Holy Trinity High School, Devon thought everything had gone "pretty good". He did not take the shuttle from Downtown, instead getting a friend to drop him. "The thing is I didn't have information on where to get on to the shuttle, so that was my problem," he said.

Ashar visiting from overseas felt that the entrance was not very clear. "We were dropped at the wrong place initially by the shuttle," he stated. Although he said the processing was fine, he thought it was "a little bit behind" what he has experienced at other games in the world.

Out from England is Jez, dressed to take full advantage of the warm hot sunshine. Having been to matches in England before, he thought his experience at Sabina Park was easy enough. "No problems…..smooth," he said, evaluating it as "pretty much the same, really."

The dreadlocked Neville (np!) is a visiting Jamaican from the USA, where 9/11 occurred and forever changed the face of global security. He's accustomed to the pat-downs and the searches. "Coming through the airports (in USA) is tough…but this, this was easy to me and it's similar to last Friday in Trelawny. It was pretty smooth for me," he said. "The biggest problem I had in Trelawny was the food line."