After years of absence, the iconic fan entertainment zone at Kingston, Jamaica’s Sabina Park made its triumphant return on Wednesday, rebranded as Mound Mania, bringing back the signature mix of live cricket action, nonstop music, and communal celebration that defined generations of match days at the historic ground. While batters and bowlers contested the opening One-Day International between the West Indies and Sri Lanka on the outfield, off the boundary ropes, the revived fan hub came alive with energy, drawing patrons eager to reconnect with a beloved piece of local cricket culture.
Though initial attendance was modest due to a midweek scheduling and a condensed marketing timeline, the energy inside the venue never wavered from the first delivery at 9:30 a.m. through the final close of play just before 7 p.m. Resident DJ collective Renaissance Sound, made up of DJ Delano, DJ Jerome, and DJ Niney Badness, kept a continuous soundtrack flowing, pairing every boundary, wicket and scheduled break with upbeat tracks that kept the crowd engaged throughout the entire day. The festive atmosphere got an extra boost from an unplanned birthday celebration for local media personality and Zip 103 FM host Venus, who called her first trip to the new Mound Mania the perfect birthday treat. “There were bars, we had lunch, comfortable seating, and it was such a good experience,” Venus shared. “I’ll be back.”
For organizers, the relaunch represents more than just a fan zone refresh—it is an effort to restore one of the most vibrant and iconic parts of the Sabina Park match experience that has been missing for years. Kino Johnson, director of Mound Mania, noted that the opening day turnout aligned with expectations, especially given the barriers the project faced. “We expected more kinks, more delays and hiccups; however, with a slow kind of return to the vibe we’re accustomed to at the mound, we’re pretty content with how things turned out,” Johnson explained. He added that the condensed launch timeline and midweek match date were the primary factors behind the smaller opening crowd, but noted that attendance grew steadily throughout the day, calling the opening a solid first step for the revived attraction.
Former West Indies vice-captain Carlton Baugh Jr. echoed that optimism, noting that the low turnout was entirely expected for a weekday match, and predicted far bigger crowds for upcoming weekend fixtures. “It was a weekday opening match and so we expected it would be a little bit scanty, but over the weekend we should have a better turnout,” Baugh Jr said. “We’re looking forward to Jamaica supporting the West Indies team. We’re looking towards a good series and good vibes. This is cricket, lovely cricket, and everyone should come out and enjoy.”
Organisers are particularly bullish on the upcoming T20 matches in the series, where day-night fixtures are expected to draw far larger crowds, allowing the Mound Mania experience to hit its full stride. “Mound Mania is fully back,” said co-director Sean Green. “The vibe is here and, for the rest of the series, we’ll build on it. We will have some day-night matches and with that comes a lot more excitement. We’ll have live entertainment, performances, and just an overall experience that will have you feeling like you would back in the days when the mound was the place to watch cricket.” Green emphasized that the mound has always set the energetic tone for the entire stadium, arguing that a vibrant fan zone directly elevates the on-field performance: “The mound builds the atmosphere for the rest of the stadium. Once that tone is set, then West Indies will play well.”
Even though the West Indies lost the opening ODI on home soil, the successful return of the iconic fan zone gave supporters a separate reason to celebrate: the comeback of a decades-old cherished tradition that many hope will once again become a defining part of match days at Sabina Park for years to come.