Play-offs will generate excitement in Red Stripe Premier League

NEWS that the Red Stripe Premier League title will now be decided by a play-off format is like great music to the ears.

The proposed format is: after the third round (33 games) the eight top teams will play off in two-way quarter-finals, two-way semi-finals, and a one-game final. Fun and excitement guaranteed, hopefully with good football.The detractors’ argument that the most consistent club should win is sound. However, I say they must prove their quality and consistency at the end, when it matters most. It just so happens that there are four elements to a successful competition: the clubs, the fans, the sponsors and the media. All must be satisfied if there is to be harmony and progress. What we have been having in the Red Stripe Premier League is a concentration on the ambition of the clubs only.Can you imagine the NBA ending after 82 regular season games without the play-offs? Or after all the violence and crashes in the NFL, there is no Super Bowl?First and foremost, the fans must be attracted and entertained. Without them the competition is no more than organised training matches between two squads. Local Monday night football (MNF) is a hit because all the four aforementioned elements are in sync. However, the majority of the games on Sunday are like very poor cousins at a Christmas party — scrappy and colourless. Interest for most of these clubs and their few fans nosedive in February once they can’t win the competition and are fairly safe. Only their appearance on MNF keeps them relevant. This should change as there will be more clubs in the hunt and more fans involved.Secondly, the sponsors must be able to maximise on promotion and sales. Where there are few fans this is impossible. The first half of the competition should now be the foundation to build on a massive push towards the run-in to the play-offs. Nothing better than to end in a crescendo for both fans and sponsors.We would have to go back over a decade to recall more than 10,000 fans in the stands at any local game. (Arnett Gardens seats less). Those were semi-finals and final games driven by excitement which could only be hosted by the expanse of the National Stadium.Comparing Jamaica’s league with those in Europe is a joke. They have over 100 years of history to call on, tens of thousands of dedicated and passionate, paying fans, world-class players and coaches, millions from television rights, and sponsors lining up at the club houses begging to come in. Jamaica’s football has none of the above. They play for promotion, to avoid relegation, for Champions League spots, Europa League spots, etc. Thousands celebrate and thousands cry at the end of the season.Whether we want to believe it or not, our cultural tendencies have shifted dramatically from Europe to the Americas. If you don’t believe me, check your sports channels on TV. Before this proposed change by the Premier League Clubs Association, only four of the top footballing countries in CONCACAF or South America played a straight league format at the top: Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Brazil and Argentina. Notably, Brazil is now loaded with money and football history. And, while Argentina does not have the money, they live and breathe football. Their average game attendance is much larger than Brazil’s.In this region, Canada, the USA, Mexico, all the top Central American countries and eight South American countries contest a play-off system. Include Australia as well. Theirs, like ours, are all “emerging league”, which have to compete aggressively for the sponsor’s dollars if not for the fans. They have bells and whistles at the end…not only at the launch. Jamaica football should be no different.However, I would recommend a couple of changes to the proposed format. Instead of having eight teams involved in the play-offs I would have seven. I would then reward the top team on points after the third round with a bye to the semi-finals. This would give them a chance to refresh their players and get ready for the big push for the title. The two-way semi-finals match up would then be drawn for transparency. Let’s get more fans involved and end the competition with a bang, not a “tush”.

HOUSE RULES

1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper – email addresses will not be published.

2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.

3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.

4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.

5. Please don’t use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed:mailto:advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.

6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.

7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

comments powered by

View the original article here

Play-offs will generate excitement in Red Stripe Premier League

$100m Independence allocation will generate income for small businesses -- Ministry

News

Friday, July 26, 2013 | 11:55 AM

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Ministry of Youth and Culture today said the Government’s allocation of $100 million to the Emancipation and Independence celebrations for 2013 will generate revenues for medium, small and micro business across the country. According to Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth and Culture, Sydney Bartley the staging of such events should be seen as much more than leisure or entertainment activities, but rather as part of a creative industry which generates jobs and other opportunities for hundreds of Jamaicans.“As an industry, several things are happening: there are persons working and they get that work whenever the creative industry has an event.  When the Government is celebrating Independence, dancers, musicians, bands, sound system operators, hairdressers, vendors and many others are employed”, he said.Many of the participants in these activities are from inner-city communities and they look forward to the staging of the ‘Emancipendence’ events primarily because of the potential to earn. In many instances these occasional events are their only source of income, Bartley said.The Permanent Secretary argued that the staging of events such as the Grand Gala provides a financial boost to businesses, performers and skilled technicians and therefore represents an investment in the Jamaican economy.Speaking at the recent launch of Emancipation and Independence celebrations, Youth and Culture Minister Lisa Hanna said that the Government was aware of the economic challenges that the country is facing and as such the celebrations will be held within the context of fiscal responsibility and done within budget.“The Government in general, and specifically, the Ministry of Youth and Culture, recognises the importance of staging these celebrations as a part of the programme for economic and social restoration. It has been manifested time and time again that we are at our best when we celebrate the achievement of our nation,” Hanna said.

HOUSE RULES

1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper – email addresses will not be published.

2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.

3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.

4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.

5. Please don’t use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed:mailto:advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.

6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.

7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

comments powered by

View the original article here

$100m Independence allocation will generate income for small businesses -- Ministry

$100m Independence allocation will generate income for small businesses -- Ministry

Latest News

Friday, July 26, 2013 | 11:55 AM

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Ministry of Youth and Culture today said the Government’s allocation of $100 million to the Emancipation and Independence celebrations for 2013 will generate revenues for medium, small and micro business across the country. According to Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth and Culture, Sydney Bartley the staging of such events should be seen as much more than leisure or entertainment activities, but rather as part of a creative industry which generates jobs and other opportunities for hundreds of Jamaicans.“As an industry, several things are happening: there are persons working and they get that work whenever the creative industry has an event.  When the Government is celebrating Independence, dancers, musicians, bands, sound system operators, hairdressers, vendors and many others are employed”, he said.Many of the participants in these activities are from inner-city communities and they look forward to the staging of the ‘Emancipendence’ events primarily because of the potential to earn. In many instances these occasional events are their only source of income, Bartley said.The Permanent Secretary argued that the staging of events such as the Grand Gala provides a financial boost to businesses, performers and skilled technicians and therefore represents an investment in the Jamaican economy.Speaking at the recent launch of Emancipation and Independence celebrations, Youth and Culture Minister Lisa Hanna said that the Government was aware of the economic challenges that the country is facing and as such the celebrations will be held within the context of fiscal responsibility and done within budget.“The Government in general, and specifically, the Ministry of Youth and Culture, recognises the importance of staging these celebrations as a part of the programme for economic and social restoration. It has been manifested time and time again that we are at our best when we celebrate the achievement of our nation,” Hanna said.Like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jamaicaobserverFollow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamaicaObserver

HOUSE RULES

1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper – email addresses will not be published.

2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.

3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.

4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.

5. Please don’t use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed:mailto:advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.

6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.

7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

comments powered by

View the original article here

$100m Independence allocation will generate income for small businesses -- Ministry