The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

AFTER the passing of Hurricane Matthew, it was obvious that there was a lot of structural damage to properties throughout New Providence.

On inspection of the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre, the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium and the Kendal GL Isaacs Gymnasium, which were both used as a hurricane shelter, as well as the National Tennis Centre and the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex, there was minimal damage.

However, at the old Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium and further down the road at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex, there was quite a considerable amount of damage.

Lawrence Hepburn, the maintenance manager for the National Sports Authority, said while the properties at the QESC are all just about intact, the old TAR Stadium and the softball stadiums at Baillou Hills were hit the hardest.

“At the fields where the Bahamas Government League plays, there was considerable damage to the concession stand and all of the dugouts,” Hepburn said.

“At the Banker’s Field, there was some damage but not as much as there was at the other softball field. I think they can get that up and running quicker than the other one.”

The New Providence Softball Association currently occupies the Banker’s Field as they got the first game completed in all four of their best-of-five playoff series in the men and ladies divisions.

It’s not known when they will resume play as they look forward to completing their championship before the Bahamas Softball Federation stage their National Round Robin Tournament at the end of the month.

“Over at the old TAR, we suffered tremendous damage,” Hepburn noted. “We lost a roof, the announcer’s booth was damaged and the entrance area and the fencing are all down, including the thrower’s area that we were developing behind Shell Gas Station.

“At the new stadium, the only real damage that we experienced was on the infield. We are going to be set back in putting down the new surface. But we are looking to regroup and get everything back in order.”

With a deadline set for December to have all of the renovations completed at the QESC, Hepburn said they are going to have to go through another renovation process and they hope to accelerate a lot of things by increasing their skill labor to get the job done.

The NSA is preparing to host the third version of the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl on December 24 at the new Thomas A. Robinson Stadium. That is the next major event scheduled for the stadium.

It’s expected to feature a match-up of university teams from either the American Athletic Conference (AAC), Conference USA and the Mid-American Conference (MAC).