Barbados’ biggest sporting facility is now looking for a new head.
The Gymnasium Limited and general manager Ken Mason have parted ways following the board’s concerns over the facility’s running and the Gymnasium’s inability to reach particular revenue targets.
Minister of Sport Stephen Lashley announced Mason’s abrupt departure in a Press conference yesterday evening from his offices at Sky Mall, Haggatt Hall.
“In short, the financial fortunes of the Gymnasium have significantly fallen over the past couple of years and it became readily apparent that we had to look at the Gymnasium as a whole and reposition the Gymnasium to ensure its viability,” explained Lashley.
“A critical part of that process requires a relook at the management structure at the Gymnasium and a decision has been made that the current general manager will of course part company with the Gymnasium.
“We are of course in very challenging economic times and we know that the Gymnasium can function more efficiently than it has in the past. We need a management structure that can respond to the needs of an emerging sporting industry and we are seeking to position Barbados to take advantage of not only the sports tourism sector but the very important area of venue management,” he added.
The move comes following numerous reports that the facility was struggling to sustain itself, far less turn a profit, after failing to attract enough events to generate significant revenue.
When contacted yesterday, a terse Mason had little to say about his separation from the venue.
“What the minister say is true. If you want information, ask the minister,” he told the DAILY NATION.
But the pressure was always mounting on the Gymnasium’s management after they lost a major means of income about seven years ago when then Prime Minister Owen Arthur mandated that sporting bodies be allowed to use the facility for free.
However, Lashley believes there are several untapped money-making avenues for the Gymnasium to explore while ensuring the facility will still come without a cost to local sport federations.
“There is already an arrangement in place with the National Sports Council that deals with the requests from sporting organisations which request to use the Gymnasium. We are not going to change that arrangement and that arrangement has worked well through the (National) Sports Council subsidising their costs
“It has to be appropriately marketed and to some extent that has fallen off in recent times, but the Gymnasium in my view has the potential to be marketed across the world as a prime sports and entertainment venue,” Lashley said.
“There are a host of opportunities that are available to the Gymnasium to take a share of a market where there are chances to host significant events [but] the role of the Gymnasium must be one in which is a very dual role while of course we are maintaining our focus on enabling the sporting organisations to have access to the Gymnasium.
“In the real world, while you’re seeking to provide that availability for sporting organisations, some of whom would not be able to pay the economic rate at the Gymnasium, we still have to position the Gymnasium to go after other business which we know is available,” he added.
Along with restructuring the management of the Gymnasium, which will be looking to hire a chief executive officer to run the organisation, the board has also identified areas to refurbish at the facility, including an extremely damaged roof.
The Gymnasium was built in 1992 at an original cost of $21 million with technical assistance from the government of the People’s Republic of China.
