From Concacaf

Experts from the region evaluate the results of initial assessments studies

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica (Friday, January 23, 2015) – The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) held today the second meeting of the Caribbean Premier League Task Force, hosted by CONCACAF President Jeffrey Webb and General Secretary Enrique Sanz.

The meeting, which took place in Montego Bay during the CONCACAF Under-20 Championship finals, was attended by regional and international experts from various areas of the football industry, including Former Prime Minister of Jamaica and Chairman of Jamaica’s Premier League, the Most Honorable Edward Seaga, Premier League Chairman Richard Scudamore, MLS Commissioner Don Garber, and Liga MX President Decio De Maria, among other important figures in regional football.

“This meeting signifies another step that CONCACAF has taken to evaluate the viability of a Caribbean league,” said Webb. “We would all agree that to continue with the advancement of football in the Caribbean region we must improve the foundation of the sport and develop necessary infrastructures and talents.”

The Task Force opened proceedings by reviewing the report of a detailed regional stadium infrastructure study commissioned by CONCACAF. The study revealed a group of countries that could host and participate in a potential Caribbean Premier League based on their existing facilities. The study consisted of visits to four countries and nine stadiums and also recommended additional visits to other markets with 5,000-plus capacity venues.

Among the many topics discussed was the initial Caribbean Professional League viability report, created by Rethink Management Group, a renowned consultancy firm focused on advising football entities internationally. The presented report led to the discussion on the positives and negatives of potential competition formats and their correlated financial models.

Chief Executive of the Premier League, Mr. Richard Scudamore said: “The excellent work that the Task Force has already done provided a very good basis for our discussions. The Premier League is honored to be involved and will assist in any way it can to bring this initiative of President Webb and his colleagues to reality.”

The Caribbean Premier League Task Force concluded the meeting by commissioning additional studies, including one focused on an in-depth analysis of the Caribbean sports market, specifically on existing sporting events from a ticket sales, sponsorship and TV broadcast metrics.

CONCACAF Caribbean Premier League Task Force

Chairman:

Yves Jean Bart, President Haitian Football Federation

Members:

Honorable Dr. Keith Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada

Richard Scudamore, Chief Executive Premier League

Damien Hughes, Caribbean Football Union General Secretary

Simon Firth, Partner, Maples and Calder, Cayman Islands

Don Garber, Commissioner, Major League Soccer

Edward Seaga, former Prime Minister of Jamaica and Chairman of Jamaica’s Premier League)

David J. Williams, Owner/President of W Connection Football Club, Trinidad and Tobago

Decio de Maria, President Liga MX

Shaka Hislop, Football Commentator and Ex-Trinidad & Tobago National Team Player

Randy Harris, President Barbados Football Federation

Honourable Randolph Horton, Speaker of the House of Assembly of Bermuda

James Johnson, FIFA

Jefferson Slack, Senior Vice President, Global Business Development, Football, IMG

Kieran Foley, Group Head Marketing, Digicel