THE REDEVELOPED KENSINGTON OVAL is being targeted to bring in revenue on a year-round basis.

To this end, one of the world's top suppliers of sports and lifestyle services has been approached to develop a business plan for what will be a multi-purpose facility.

The disclosure was made by World Cup Barbados chief executive officer Stephen Alleyne during the Samuel Jackman Prescod (SJPP) Memorial Lecture on Thursday night.

"This island will soon be the proud home of a redeveloped multi-purpose Kensington Oval. That Oval, when finished, will represent a truly iconic world-class venue capable of staging cricketing events like before, but now enhanced to welcome a wide range of sporting and non-sporting events," Alleyne said.

"The shareholders of Kensington Oval have engaged the world's leading purveyor of sports and lifestyle services to develop a robust business plan which ensures year-round usage of the venue for a host of international entertainment, cultural, sporting and business events. This will ensure that Barbados will reap a long-term, sustainable legacy from the venue.

Speaking on the topic The Impact of ICC Cricket World on Barbados 2007 at the SJPP auditorium, Alleyne also pointed to other benefits that can accrue to the island during and after the event.

He identified legacy benefits from forging regional and economic links across the Caribbean, the impact of transport both local and international, and the strengthening of cricket activity.

The World Cup Barbados chief also said the island would also be in a stronger position to bid for and stage other sporting international and non-sporting events following the experience gained from bidding and planning the World Cup.

The event will also serve as the catalyst for the development of robust home accommodation product, Alleyne said, which would see the direct involvement of communities in economic activity of hosting visitors throughout the year.

"Barbados has formulated a world-beating bid. It has forged an exciting model for public and private sector working and to host the final of Cricket World Cup excellently will provide a significant boost to our national confidence and ability to attract future events," Alleyne said.

"Barbados is not our future. Our future is the world. In this era of trade liberalisation, we need to hold the confidence to see barriers coming down, not as a threat, but as an opportunity to go out and conquer . . . not to conquer any perceived tidal waves, but let us see the opportunities that we have been gifted with.

"Let us use them wisely and make our children and their children proud of what we did."

haydngill@nationnews.com