A MARKETING plan for the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium will be unveiled in May, a spokesperson with the information ministry has told The Gleaner.

Andrew Clunis, director of communications with the ministry, says the Bahamas football team will play its 'home' matches in upcoming World Cup qualifiers there. A kickboxing event is also scheduled for the facility in June.

No official itinerary

Several church groups have booked the stadium for major events, while British football teams have expressed interest in using the complex for pre-season training, Clunis said.

The stadium's biggest assignment to date was the Cricket World Cup opening ceremony in March last year. A warm-up match between India and the West Indies was played there prior to the grand show.

There was no official itinerary for the stadium following the tournament, raising concerns that it would become a white elephant.

Current use

Currently, the Trelawny Cricket Association uses the ground for its domestic league.

The stadium which sits on 40 hectares, can accommodate 25,000 spectators. It was built by the COMPLANT company from China and cost US$35 million, the funds coming through a loan from the Chinese government.

It was handed over to organisers of the Cricket World Cup in December 2006 during a friendly match between Jamaica and the Lashings team from England.