Cricket West Indies (CWI) has made a strategic push to position cricket as a key driver of economic development across the Caribbean, highlighting the sport’s potential to attract global investment and serve as a foundation for regional transformation.
The pitch came during the CIS25 conference, where CWI framed cricket not just as a game but as a commercial brand, cultural asset, and investment platform with the capacity to deliver sustainable growth through international partnerships and infrastructure development.
Caribbean leaders rally behind CWI’s vision
The high-level nature of the moment was underscored by the presence of several Caribbean prime ministers, signaling political alignment around the concept of sport-led regional development.
Among the dignitaries attending were:
- The Honourable Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda
- The Honourable Philip J. Pierre, Prime Minister of Saint Lucia
- The Honourable Roosevelt Skerrit, Prime Minister of Dominica
- The Honourable Dickon Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada
Also present were key stakeholders from Coolidge Cricket Ground (CCG), including Chairman Ricky Skerritt and General Manager Nelecia Yeates, reinforcing the importance of the Coolidge redevelopment project in CWI’s broader strategy.
Cricket as a brand and investment magnet
In a featured panel on sport and sustainable investment, CWI Director Chris Dehring articulated the commercial and cultural power of cricket to transform the Caribbean economy.
“Cricket has always been more than just a game in the Caribbean—it’s an identity, a brand, and a global asset,” said Dehring. “By engaging high-net-worth fans more deliberately through cricket, we can attract capital that enhances our infrastructure and drives broader economic growth.”
He pointed to opportunities in East Asian and North American markets, where cricket is gaining momentum and investors are looking for fresh engagement platforms linked to lifestyle and culture.
Coolidge Cricket Ground: a sport-business destination
At the heart of CWI’s investment ambitions is the redevelopment of Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua, envisioned as a multi-purpose hub that merges sport, business, and culture.
“Our aim is to turn Coolidge into a dynamic development hub, not just a cricket venue,” said Dehring. “With strategic partnerships, it can become a blueprint for how sport can fuel meaningful investment across sectors.”
Coolidge will be designed to host events, support tourism, and anchor new commercial ecosystems, all broadcast to global cricket audiences.
CBI programme as a bridge to global capital
CWI President Dr. Kishore Shallow highlighted the role of the Caribbean’s Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programme as a financial complement to the cricket strategy, enabling deeper engagement with international investors.
“The CBI programme is a strategic pathway to attract meaningful investment into cricket and regional development,” said Shallow. “It aligns global capital with our ambitions and can open up broader economic opportunities for all Caribbean people.”
He emphasized the strong turnout of government leaders at CIS25 as proof of growing alignment around cricket’s potential to unify and uplift the region through smart, sport-based investment.
