Jamaica Tourist Board Director of Tourism Donovan White is flanked by Cavalier Football Club Chairman Ryan Foster (left) and Sporting Director Rudolph Speid ahead of a press conference on Monday announcing a corporate partnership for their upcoming Concacaf Champions Cup game against Inter Miami on Thursday. (Photo: Collin Reid)
Cavalier get corporate backing ahead of Champions Cup second leg
Cavalier Sporting Director Rudolph Speid has expressed gratitude for the support the club has received ahead of the second leg round-of-16 Concacaf Champions Cup game against Inter Miami at the National Stadium this Thursday at 7:00pm.
The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), Red Stripe, and Wisynco have all become sponsors of the game.
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Inter Miami lead 2-0 on aggregate from the first leg in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, last Thursday. With the possibility that Cavalier could still overturn the deficit, it is believed that Inter Captain Lionel Messi, who sat in the stands for the first game, could feature in the second. With Messi widely regarded as football’s greatest-ever player, demand for tickets for this game has heightened.
Speid says the level of preparation required for the game is unprecedented for the club and he is grateful for the support.
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“The support is well needed because this will be a complex game,” he said. “There will be a lot of security; it’s going to be almost like a head of State visit based on all the requirements needed.
“It is also going to be very expensive, with security, transportation and a lot of moving parts. Volunteers, logistics and these costs will double the cost of any match we have hosted before, so these sponsorships help us in that regard.”
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While the exact figure for staging the event remains uncertain, Speid estimates it could reach $20 million, as new expenses emerge.
“Every day, we keep on having to add new expenses to make the process more seamless,” he said. “As the number of persons coming into the stadium increases, so do the costs,.”
Despite the mounting costs, ticket sales have been strong. Speid confirmed that grandstand tickets are nearly sold out, with only bleacher seats still available.
“So far, the support has been great and ticket sales have been picking up,” he said. “We know what we have to do, we have to score the first goal and score it as quickly as possible. But even if we don’t get it in the first half, that doesn’t mean it’s the end. We know how hard it is going to be to attack that much and keep a clean sheet.”
Tourism Director Donovan White says that the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) is fully behind the initiative, recognising the match’s significance in promoting the island internationally.
“The JTB supports anything and everything that promotes Jamaica,” White said. “The effort of Cavalier FC and in particular, our local footballers to put on their best show and compete on the international stage is commendable. Bringing a team like Inter Miami, featuring arguably the best player ever, Lionel Messi, to Jamaica for the first time is historic.”
White says the global reach of the game, which will be broadcast live to audiences worldwide, highlights Kingston as a football destination.
“This will be the biggest club football game ever played in Jamaica, not just in terms of stadium attendance but also in the sheer following of Inter Miami fans coming to Kingston for this game,” he said. “We want to ensure that Kingston and Jamaica are properly represented to the world.”
Red Stripe Brand Manager Nathan Nelms says they are committed to making the event a grand celebration of football and Jamaican culture.
“The dollar figure is in the millions because we are supporting this historic game with substantial investment, not only in the refreshment of patrons but also in ensuring that the stadium is full,” Nelms said.
As part of their contribution, Red Stripe has secured hundreds of tickets to give away to fans via social media platforms and local radio stations, ensuring as many supporters as possible can experience the match first-hand.
“We want the stadium to be full and we want everybody to come out, watch the match, and enjoy it with a Red Stripe in hand,” Nelms said.
