Florida Wants Bite of World Cup Pie

While West Indian cricket fans scratch their heads in collective exasperation at the lack of visible preparations for the 2007 World Cup, there are reports that a multi-million dollar cricket stadium will be constructed in Florida to host a few games.

According to a report in the Barbados Nation, plans are already on the drawing board for the construction of a multi-million dollar cricket stadium in the Florida city of Lauderhill and word is that the U.S state will be positioning to play host to some World Cup games when the big tournament comes to the Caribbean in 2007.

Lauderhill mayor Richard Kaplan said a 96-acre parcel of land in the Sunrise Boulevard corner has been bought in an attempt to build a premier cricket complex, cultural centre and library among other amenities.

"If we?re going to try and do the World Cup in 2007, then we have to build a facility that they are going to want to come to, Kaplan told the Nation. "We are lucky in that money in our county
has been set aside potentially for such services."

He said the stadium would be built to accommodate between 25 000 and 35 000 spectators and the cost is estimated to be at least US$25 million, depending on what facilities are included.

Kaplan, who was in Trinidad recently on a "fact-finding mission", said he intends to learn more about the game and what type of facility is needed to host a tournament. "We need to learn more about cricket and its requirements about the sport and the facilities that are needed...As a region, the concept of cricket in certain communities is very strong, but in the general community it's something new to them," he told the newspaper.

I believe there is enough support to push this forward and we're going to do what we can to create
that interest and ensure that it can be done."

Kaplan was accompanied on the Trinidad trip by other Lauderhill officials, including the vice?mayor, deputy vice-mayor, the economic development director and a representative from the recreation department.

The Florida administrators have already been in discussions with West Indies Cricket Board officials. "We?ve just started such discussions. We've received support and there are some very strong interests in it, he said.