In 2013, I interviewed Nelicia Yates of CWI. I never did complete the writing up of the article so it was never published. Below are the notes from that interview.
MM: Every year when the venues for the Home Series are announced, there are grumblings about who got what match and why matches were not assigned to this territory or that. There are even suggestions of favouritism depending on who is the President or CEO of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB)! In 2012 when Jamaica was not awarded any match for Australia’s tour of the Caribbean, even Jamaica’s Prime Minister, Hon. Portia Simpson-Miller weighed in, warranting a visit in person by the then President of the WICB, Hon. Dr Julian Hunte.
Separate and apart from each territory wanting their constituents to see cricket live, there are financial considerations as upgraded venues seek to pay back the hefty loans taken out for the Cricket World Cup in 2007.
[I don't know why I have this list there....I think maybe this is the fixtures committee who decides.]
Cindy McLean – Manager, Events WICB since September 2010
Prior Regional Event Manager - ICC World Twenty20 West Indies
West Indies Cricket Board Inc. (WICB)
May 2009 – June 2010 (1 year 2 months)
Enoch Lewis Chairman of Finance Committee
Julian Charles Chairman of Cricket Committee
To Be Announced Chairman of Marketing and Business Development Committee
Joel Garner
Emmanuel Nanthan
Michael Muirhead Chief Executive Officer
Roland Holder
Nelecia Yeates
Cindy McLean Secretary
MM:Once the ICC has determined who is touring the West Indies, whats the procedure for determining
We have an international fixtures committee who looks after a number of criteria – commercial, cricketing, equity of distribution of matches, event management expertise or experience, performance the last time that a match was hosted at the venue, availability of the stadium. There are a number of criteria that they use and based on that criteria, the matches are allocated.
MM: What determines for examples that Australia and South Africa went to Dominica rather than another venue?
Well you recognize that we have 10 venues throughout the region since 2007. In any one year, every year, we would have very often two, sometimes three touring teams. So automatically it would mean that only some of the venues so I guess it is just a matter of who is coming around when and who has been assigned when.
MM: Key criteria used. Let’s say all 10 stadiums are available and we know that India is coming, how do you then allocate which of the 10 get the matches?
Like I told you, there is a criteria the IFC uses. We will look at commercial viability. At the time they will look at the condition of the stadium they will look at the experience that you had the last time that country toured that venue. In some cases There are venues that you would most likely send some touring teams too because They have a history with that touring party. They have shown to be very commercially favourable depending on who comes there so there are a number of factors that come into play.
MM: So if all of these are equal…..
That doesn’t happen. I could tell you straight up, it doesn’t happen.
MM: Tell me which venues are commercially viable.
I cannot tell you that offhand either because there are a number of variables. You have three versions of the game. You have different times of the year. So there may be a time of the year when you may say it might be difficult to go to Trinidad for eg because it is the rainy season and Trinidad is geographically
You might say you cannot go to Trinidad. There are just so many variable.
I remember when matches were not in Jamaica last year, that was one of the reasons.
Exactly, so it is very difficult because it just never happens that way.
MM: For Grenada, would you say that commercial viability might be the factor that has prevented them from getting any matches since 2009.
Cannot say. I joined the board 2.5 years ago. What I did when I first came in was look at the history of matches in all of the venues over the last 10 years. For eg how things are not always equal Dominica so to tell you now
What I can tell you is that now that they have come, and just as you walked in I was looking at a report. We will submit a report to say this is how Grenada performed
I will be able to have a ticket sales report
And then we will be able to compare with the other venues.
MM: Without being specific, does Grenada get a passing grade?
First impressions, absolutely. I think the organizations has been fantastic. Because they were coming in back after a while and Zimbabwe is not seen as one of those tours which would be in high demand in terms of spectatorship, we thought it was a good reintroduction into cricket
MM: How far ahead of a series do you determine the venues?
The IFC has considered some of next year’s series. They will consider before the second quarter of this year. We have been trying more and more
When we know enough in advance then we can plan even better.
MM: Had you come to this ground before
Since it hadn’t been used for so long
So we came very early in last year to do an assessment. We met with the host body
MM:I know that the stadium has a number of offices. Does that pose any challenge?
It did create a challenge because typically we ask for the venue to be sterile. But we understand how difficult it is to maintain the stadium so we understand the need Because they occupy
Considering that they have sold those boxes so the tenants could attend the matches.
out
MM: You said there is an IFC. Who comprises
A mixture of Board members, management of the WICB so
MM: Dr Mitchell
I can’t say that. I wouldn’t be so audacious to say that at all [laughter]
Separate and apart from each territory wanting their constituents to see cricket live, there are financial considerations as upgraded venues seek to pay back the hefty loans taken out for the Cricket World Cup in 2007.
[I don't know why I have this list there....I think maybe this is the fixtures committee who decides.]
Cindy McLean – Manager, Events WICB since September 2010
Prior Regional Event Manager - ICC World Twenty20 West Indies
West Indies Cricket Board Inc. (WICB)
May 2009 – June 2010 (1 year 2 months)
Enoch Lewis Chairman of Finance Committee
Julian Charles Chairman of Cricket Committee
To Be Announced Chairman of Marketing and Business Development Committee
Joel Garner
Emmanuel Nanthan
Michael Muirhead Chief Executive Officer
Roland Holder
Nelecia Yeates
Cindy McLean Secretary
MM:Once the ICC has determined who is touring the West Indies, whats the procedure for determining
We have an international fixtures committee who looks after a number of criteria – commercial, cricketing, equity of distribution of matches, event management expertise or experience, performance the last time that a match was hosted at the venue, availability of the stadium. There are a number of criteria that they use and based on that criteria, the matches are allocated.
MM: What determines for examples that Australia and South Africa went to Dominica rather than another venue?
Well you recognize that we have 10 venues throughout the region since 2007. In any one year, every year, we would have very often two, sometimes three touring teams. So automatically it would mean that only some of the venues so I guess it is just a matter of who is coming around when and who has been assigned when.
MM: Key criteria used. Let’s say all 10 stadiums are available and we know that India is coming, how do you then allocate which of the 10 get the matches?
Like I told you, there is a criteria the IFC uses. We will look at commercial viability. At the time they will look at the condition of the stadium they will look at the experience that you had the last time that country toured that venue. In some cases There are venues that you would most likely send some touring teams too because They have a history with that touring party. They have shown to be very commercially favourable depending on who comes there so there are a number of factors that come into play.
MM: So if all of these are equal…..
That doesn’t happen. I could tell you straight up, it doesn’t happen.
MM: Tell me which venues are commercially viable.
I cannot tell you that offhand either because there are a number of variables. You have three versions of the game. You have different times of the year. So there may be a time of the year when you may say it might be difficult to go to Trinidad for eg because it is the rainy season and Trinidad is geographically
You might say you cannot go to Trinidad. There are just so many variable.
I remember when matches were not in Jamaica last year, that was one of the reasons.
Exactly, so it is very difficult because it just never happens that way.
MM: For Grenada, would you say that commercial viability might be the factor that has prevented them from getting any matches since 2009.
Cannot say. I joined the board 2.5 years ago. What I did when I first came in was look at the history of matches in all of the venues over the last 10 years. For eg how things are not always equal Dominica so to tell you now
What I can tell you is that now that they have come, and just as you walked in I was looking at a report. We will submit a report to say this is how Grenada performed
I will be able to have a ticket sales report
And then we will be able to compare with the other venues.
MM: Without being specific, does Grenada get a passing grade?
First impressions, absolutely. I think the organizations has been fantastic. Because they were coming in back after a while and Zimbabwe is not seen as one of those tours which would be in high demand in terms of spectatorship, we thought it was a good reintroduction into cricket
MM: How far ahead of a series do you determine the venues?
The IFC has considered some of next year’s series. They will consider before the second quarter of this year. We have been trying more and more
When we know enough in advance then we can plan even better.
MM: Had you come to this ground before
Since it hadn’t been used for so long
So we came very early in last year to do an assessment. We met with the host body
MM:I know that the stadium has a number of offices. Does that pose any challenge?
It did create a challenge because typically we ask for the venue to be sterile. But we understand how difficult it is to maintain the stadium so we understand the need Because they occupy
Considering that they have sold those boxes so the tenants could attend the matches.
out
MM: You said there is an IFC. Who comprises
A mixture of Board members, management of the WICB so
MM: Dr Mitchell
I can’t say that. I wouldn’t be so audacious to say that at all [laughter]
