Dear Source,
Mr. Hobson, Mr. Lawaetz, and Mr. Brin are three persons that are certainly doing their part in trying to kick-start the economy in St. Croix. (See Hobson committed to St. Croix sports complex.) Just like the Christiansted By-Pass, we continue to hear about proposals but no action. Why does it continue to take 30 years to get any capital projects for St. Croix off the ground, while capital projects in St. Thomas are priorities? It is time to get the St. Croix Sports Complex built and promoted.
Puerto Rico is currently running radio and TV ads which boast about the great impact international sports events have had on their economy. They are in the process of building a sports arena, and they just sponsored the Olympic pre-qualifiers. They are also competing against Mexico to become the new home of the Montreal Expos. St. Croix certainly needs to have a diversified economy in order to wake up the sleeping giant that it is, and a Sports Complex will do just that.
Building the Sports Complex adjacent to the Henry Rohlsen Airport has several advantages. First of all, it would help attract sports events to the island because of its proximity to the airport. Second, with the motor sports complex and the horse racing facility also being adjacent to the airport, we could and should create a major "Sporting Events District" on St. Croix. Third, having a hotel built in connection with the Sports Complex will help attract sports competitions to the island, not only for the Sports Complex but also for the horse racing and the car racing. Fourth, the proximity of the Melvin Evans Highway will help ease traffic going to and leaving from the Sports Complex during major events.
Just like the East End's South Shore of the island can become the Casino District of St. Croix, so can the area adjacent to the airport become the Major Sporting Events District of St. Croix. The Sports Complex certainly needs to include a soccer facility and a cricket facility. Both of these would, without a doubt, also attract these types of events to St. Croix. Having the hotel tied in to the Sports Complex will also help attract the soccer and cricket teams from around the Caribbean. Having this Sporting Events District should also help improve the race track's appearance and revenue-generating prospects.
Having the hotel built as soon as possible will also help attract business travelers to the island. Many business travelers who travel to St. Croix do not spend even one night on the island simply because there is no hotel adjacent to the airport. With a hotel adjacent to the airport, many of these business travelers would not mind spending at least one night on St. Croix. About 25 years ago many wrestling events were held on St. Croix at the racetrack and at the Central High School gym, and where did they stay? At the airport inn. Many stars from Puerto Rico came over to perform, and where did they stay? At the Airport inn. Performers from Puerto Rico now come and leave the same night because there is no hotel adjacent to the airport.
Building the Sports Complex at the Harveland/Body Slob Estate has several detractions. Besides taking away land dedicated to farming and agriculture, the area is definitely a flood plain. Did everyone forget that years ago flood waters coming down from Kingshill knocked down the wall at the cemetery and washed away many graves? There is also all the water coming down from La Reine and Clifton Hill. Traffic would also become a major problem during major sporting events. And with no hotel adjacent to the area, it will not attract international sporting events as easily.
Let's not wait another 30 years to do something about the Sports Complex. St. Croix needs that shot in the arm today, because tomorrow may never get here.
Edwin Torres
St. Croix
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