The developers behind the Montego Bay sports complex being rebuilt at Catherine Hall say the facility will operate as a daily health and wellness destination rather than a match-day venue, a model designed to avoid the financial struggles that have plagued government-run facilities such as the National Stadium and Sabina Park.
“This cannot be sustainable without it generating income daily. That is why we have built a development plan that includes an everyday health and wellness destination known as The Hive that provides a space for people to gather, exercise, and play football and racquet sports daily,” said Yoni Epstein, who heads Montego Bay Multi-Sports Development Limited (MBMSDL), in a written reply to questions from the Financial Gleaner.
Epstein, who is also chairman of Jamaica Premier League team Montego Bay United, said construction on the first phase is under way. The field has been seeded, a lighting agreement has been signed, and the full buildout is expected to begin in September. Football is scheduled to return to the complex by October, with futsal and pickleball courts ready between October and December 2026. Food and beverage spaces, a recovery facility, a gym and a running track are to open within 2027.
The first phase is estimated to cost $400 million, with the full development budgeted at $700 million over three years.
MBMSDL signed a 25-year lease with the St James Municipal Corporation in February for the site, formerly known as the Montego Bay Sports Complex.
Revenue model
Architectural plans prepared by Design HQ, the firm behind The Pinnacle and led by Issia Madden, describe The Hive as a facility designed to serve elite athletes, fitness users, tourists, corporate clients and youth development programmes.
The planned features include two FIFA-standard football pitches – one inside a stadium with a running track – smaller pitches for futsal and youth players, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, pickleball and padel courts, an Express Fitness gym, food and beverage outlets, a recovery facility, and a 40-room dormitory for visiting teams.
The design document states the complex would provide “sport, gym, recovery, food, and community under one roof” with year-round programming intended to sustain revenue outside the tourism season.
Hurricane resilience
The previous facility was devastated by Hurricane Melissa last year. The architectural plans reference flood mitigation systems along the Pye River.
luke.douglas@gleanerjm.com
