Jamaica’s ambitious redevelopment of its National Stadium has garnered significant endorsement from World Athletics President Sebastian Coe, who indicates the project could swiftly return the island nation to the forefront of international track and field hosting. The government’s primary objective for the major infrastructure overhaul is to position Jamaica as a viable venue for global sporting spectacles.
During the concluding segment of his four-day tour of Jamaica, President Coe met with Sports Minister Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange at the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) headquarters in Kingston. Minister Grange provided a comprehensive update on the transformation plans for the 64-year-old sporting arena. The construction phase, now officially slated to commence in July 2027—a adjustment from earlier announcements—represents a monumental investment exceeding $16 billion Jamaican dollars.
The sweeping redevelopment will dramatically expand the stadium’s capacity from 28,500 to approximately 40,000 seats while introducing state-of-the-art facilities, including a modernized running track. This substantial enhancement has been met with enthusiastic support from the international athletics community.
President Coe expressed his encouragement regarding the project’s progression, stating, ‘I’m delighted that it’s now moving ahead with pace and with purpose, and also pleased that it’s going through those necessary phases to come to fruition.’ He emphasized the dual benefit of such ventures, noting, ‘Having venues that are fit for purpose allows more people to be involved in sport at the highest level while simultaneously creating a smart economic model that generates revenues crucial for national well-being.’
While the stadium’s first confirmed major event will be hosting matches during the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Coe revealed that preliminary discussions are already underway regarding Jamaica hosting World Athletics Series events. The World Under-20 Championships, last held in Jamaica in 2002 when Usain Bolt announced his arrival on the global stage, is specifically being considered as a potential event for the rejuvenated venue.
The hosting rights for the 2030 World Under-20 Championships may be decided by the World Athletics Council before year-end, though the 2032 edition appears a more pragmatic target given the construction timeline. The World Athletics Relays, operating on a smaller scale than comprehensive championships, also presents a viable hosting opportunity for Jamaica.
Minister Grange, while refraining from committing to a specific completion date—having previously mentioned 2029—highlighted the project’s extraordinary economic implications. ‘Revenues are expected to increase by approximately 169 percent, primarily driven by expanded commercial capacity and enhanced event hosting capabilities,’ Grange revealed. She further detailed that ‘the project is projected to generate $70 billion in economic output during construction, contribute $34 billion to GDP, and create nearly 14,900 jobs,’ while significantly reducing government subsidies to the stadium’s operating entity by 70 percent.