CAYMANAS Park has been abuzz with football activity even before the World Cup kicked off on June 11, hosting tailgate match days for Jamaica’s failed bid to reach the big FIFA dance being played out almost next door in the United States and Mexico.
Undaunted, Jamaica’s football fans have exchanged Reggae Boyz jerseys for their international favourites, most popular being Argentina and Brazil, pouring into Caymanas Park to watch live games on its massive infield Jumbotron, the biggest outdoor screen in the Caribbean, bringing to life Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment Limited’s (SVREL) vision for the racetrack’s eventual transition as an entertainment hub.
Neville Nelson, senior vice- president, customer administration and operations, SVREL, yesterday, pointed out that the World Cup final, set for Sunday, July 19, coincides with the return of the Diamond Mile for top-class horses, a win-and-you’re-in for December’s US$300,000 Diamond Mile.
“Similar to this weekend, Diamond Mile-World Cup final Sunday will be a fusion of horse racing and World Cup football in the stands and the infield. This Saturday, patrons will be able to watch and wager on horse racing and all three World Cup games from the stands, which are free, and the infield, which costs $1,000 per vehicle, no matter how many persons,” Nelson explained.
“The infield is a tailgate affair in which you drive onto the infield with your friends, $1,000 per car, any number of persons per car. You can bring your cooler, food, and chairs. We also have food and drinks on sale, if you so choose.
“We have both JustBet terminals for betting on games and SVREL windows for horse racing. What we are providing is an exclusive experience for people to be watching and wagering on both horse racing and football,” Nelson added.
“The patrons love it. They come with friends, their own beverages. Between games we have a deejay playing. There are sponsors that do spot-prize giveaways such as Wisynco handing out products to help hydrate during and after games,” he pointed out.
Not all match days are tailgate experiences but have been well supported by the surrounding communities in Portmore.
“The Argentina game that we hosted last Tuesday, we had about 1,200 people showing up to watch that match from the stands, not the infield. We are expecting more than that for Brazil this evening, considering the stands are free.
“We want people, especially in Portmore at St Catherine, to know that Caymanas Park a fi dem place,” Nelson proclaimed.
