THE EDITOR, Sir:
I HAVE been an enthusiastic viewer of live cricket since I first attended a match at Sabina Park in 1986. I have been as concerned about declining attendance at matches as the sponsors no doubt are, but feel that the cricketing authorities are partly to blame.
Case in point: I wanted to attend Jamaica's match on October 5. After searching the major newspapers for an ad unsuccessfully, I resorted to calling the sports department of a radio station to find out the location of the match, then the bauxite company to get directions to their sports club.
If match fixtures are a secret, how do we expect to drum up support? After making the two-hour drive to the ground, there were no seats! Couldn't temporary roll-away stands have been erected for a game of this magnitude involving the local team? A few benches under two tents was clearly insufficient spectators not privileged to be in the clubhouse or the one proper stand spent the most of the day arguing about who was blocking whom.
Eventually, I gave up trying to see what was happening. The two young children I took with me were bored pretty quickly as well. On a positive note, there was sufficient parking and bathroom facilities were adequate even though water was scarce. I have no problem driving to out-of-town locations but at least adequate facilities should be put in place to reward those of us who support the game through thick or thin.
I am, etc.,
DIONNE MILLER
dam599@msn.com
Via Go-Jamaica
