Local businessman Ormiston ‘Ken’ Boyea believes that the investment of over EC$22 Million on the refurbishing of the Arnos Vale Playing Field will be “money well spent.”

He gave this endorsement as he executed his role as feature speaker at the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Cricket Association Awards Ceremony, last week Friday night.{{more}}

Boyea told the relatively small gathering at the Methodist Church Hall in Kingstown that the hosting of the warm-up matches here next year for Cricket World Cup will be an “opportunity for tourism and business.”

He noted that returns on the investment would not be immediate, but hinted on “tremendous” spin offs in the long term.

He opined that with this country hosting matches, it would be a “legacy for years to come.”

It will be the first time in the history of the Cricket World Cup that there will be an official warm up round as a prelude to group matches.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines will host Bermuda, Zimbabwe, England and Australia. They will engage each other at the Arnos Vale Playing Field March 5, 6, 7 and 9.

The main sporting arena is going through extensive renovations in preparation for these matches.

The reconfiguration includes the construction of a double-decker pavilion, a new players’ pavilion, a modern media centre as well as the re-grassing of the field. In addition, the adjoining Arnos Vale Two will be re-grassed along with the re-routing of the Arnos Vale River.

Apart from Arnos Vale, the Sion Hill and Stubbs Playing Fields will undergo changes, as they will be used as practice venues for the teams.

Boyea holds the view that following the matches, the Arnos Vale venue can be a tool in the sports tourism thrust.

Boyea, who is also a board member of the World Cup Cricket Organising Committee, suggested that the venue would be ideal for hosting overseas teams as part of their training regiment.

He suggested the provision of proper gym facilities equipped with weight training to complement the provisions of the arena.

Boyea sees the hosting of matches here as a chance to improve our efficiency. He pointed out that the entire country would be in focus given the expected media presence from England and Australia.

Boyea noted that cricket in the region needed “a shot in the arm”, and stated that he believes the World Cup can do just that.

The former St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ opening batsman’s observation came against the background of the sagging fortunes of the once indomitable West Indies team and the current poor financial state of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).

He anticipated that gate receipts from the fifty-one matches to be played could yield the WICB US$40 Million in earnings.

The 2007 World Cup will be historic. It will be the first time the event is staged in nine countries, and it will be the last time the hosting will be done on a quota basis. From 2011, countries wishing to host the event will do so through the bidding process.

Approximately 2.2 billion persons are carded to view the World Cup over a forty-seven day period.