PFJL boss working to improve JPL play-off turnout

The 2025-26 Jamaica Premier League (JPL) season concluded at the National Stadium with Portmore United emerging 5-3 winners on penalties over defending champions Cavalier, after the teams battled to a 2-2 draw.

Although the sporting aspect of the league was engaging and exciting throughout, the turnout for the play-offs, compared to recent seasons, was well below expectations.

Since the 2022-23 season, spectator turnout for the play-offs spiked tremendously, leading to almost capacity crowds at both the National Stadium and Sabina Park.

Last year’s final at the National Stadium, held on Labour Day, had also seen a less-than-anticipated turnout. Nevertheless, the grandstand was almost full to capacity, while some sections of the bleachers had a smattering of people.

However, this term, the spectator turnout for the play-offs was the lowest it has even been since the 2022-23 season.

The highest turnout came during the semi-finals, when the bleachers was opened, but for the final, only the grandstand was permitted open and Owen Hill, CEO of the Professional Football Jamaica Limited (PFJL), said this decision was a matter of economics.

He disclosed also that Sabina Park, one of the premier venues used for the play-offs, was unavailable to the PFJL this season, and its absence this year might have also impacted the low turnout they had over the play-offs.

"The truth is Sabina (Park) told us they had international engagements in cricket. So we would have wanted to go to Sabina Park, even though it is not a football-specific pitch, but the atmosphere and general ambiance of Sabina is always great.

"It was unfortunate (not to have Sabina available) this time around, but it is still one of the preferred venues in our list, especially when it comes on to the play-offs," he said.

According to Hill, the attraction of Portmore and Cavalier did not materialise and that more work needed to be done throughout the season.

"This is our biggest league and we wanted to facilitate everybody. So we hoped people would have turned out for a Portmore and Cavalier [at the National Stadium], but we keep building because a league cannot be built on two teams. It's a 14-team league and we have to put as much energy and effort behind promotions and hopefully, the people will now start supporting the dream.”

He added that although the PFJL did not realise some of its objectives this season, there is no panic and that the work will continue.

“I must tell you that we were very ambitious when we started, but the truth is, we had to pivot. There were many things we had to do as we went along. We were hit with a catastrophic hurricane and that caused a shift in how we had to operate.

"It is a very difficult job, but we are up for the challenge and we have good stakeholders; people who consistently support the brand. And we just want to continue to protect and promote what they are doing," he stated.

“The Premier League, we know this is our local beacon football of hope. Not just for administrators, but the 450-plus players, the 250-plus administrative personnel who support the clubs, and just the general fans who come out and ensure the Premier League is actually what it is.” 

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com