In an official ceremony marking a key milestone in national sporting and community development, the Government of Antigua and Barbuda has formally rebranded the longstanding Potters Sports Facility as the Harrison Potters Sports Centre: A Centre of Sporting Excellence. The decision to rename the popular public grounds is a deliberate tribute to the decades of exceptional public service, philanthropic investment, and cross-sector support for national progress delivered by Sir David Harrison, Lady Sylvia Harrison, and the wider Harrison family. The rebranding does not merely represent a symbolic name change: it caps a multi-phase upgrade process that is converting the previously basic local sporting grounds into a multifunctional hub designed to support elite athletic training, formal sports education, public wellness programming, and small local community enterprise. The project also aligns directly with the core thematic priorities of the upcoming 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), titled “Accelerating Partnerships and Investments for a Prosperous Commonwealth”, by serving as a tangible, on-the-ground example of the long-term, scalable impact that can be generated when public sector institutions, private philanthropic groups, and local community stakeholders collaborate closely. Prime Minister the Honourable Gaston Browne framed the rebranding and expansion initiative as a core component of the broader national renaissance that Antigua and Barbuda is celebrating alongside its 45th anniversary of national independence. To support the expanded scope of the project, the government has acquired an additional 1.66 acres of adjacent land to develop the dedicated Lady Sylvia Harrison Aquatic Centre, a state-of-the-art aquatic complex that will feature a full 50-metre Olympic-standard competition pool, smaller instructional and warm-down pools for youth and casual users, and permanent seating for up to 750 spectators. This new aquatic infrastructure will substantially boost Antigua and Barbuda’s ability to host high-profile national and regional competitive swimming events, drawing visiting athletes and tourism revenue to the country. The Hadeed family, another key local philanthropic stakeholder, has also pledged to fund the construction of the new Sir Aziz Hadeed Pavilion on the facility’s cricket grounds, adding premium event and spectator space for the island’s most popular sport. High Commissioner Karen-Mae Hill, whose early advocacy and consistent strategic coordination were central to forging the cross-sector partnership that made the project possible, noted that the development stands as a clear demonstration of how intentional, mission-driven collaboration can deliver tangible, lasting benefits for local populations. Sir David Harrison, speaking at the renaming event, reaffirmed his family’s longstanding commitment to the people of Antigua and Barbuda and their ongoing investment in the centre’s long-term success. “Our family feels immense pride and humility to support a project that centers young people, equal access to sporting opportunity, and strong, connected community life at its very core,” Sir David shared. “We envision the Harrison Potters Sports Centre becoming a space where hidden athletic talent is nurtured, personal confidence is built across all age groups, and residents from every walk of life can come together. We are eager to watch it serve the Potters neighborhood, the entire nation of Antigua and Barbuda, and communities across the wider Caribbean for generations to come.” Government officials extended formal public gratitude to the Harrison family, the Hadeed family, the Potters local community, and all participating government ministries, public agencies, and supplementary project partners for their combined contributions. The full, fully completed Harrison Potters Sports Centre is scheduled to hold its official grand opening in the first quarter of 2027.
Antigua and Barbuda Government Renames Potters Sports Facility as the Harrison Potters Sports Centre
