The government is expected to issue a tender for the erection of the steel structure for the new sports centre in Blowing Point within the next two weeks.
Sports minister Cardigan Connor announced the update on the project’s progress at a government press conference on 21 September.
He said the remaining materials required – such as lighting, seating, flooring, basketball rims and other associated equipment – have already been shipped.
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“This places the project in a good position to advance once a procurement process for the steel structure is completed,” Connor said.
The plan to build a modern sports facility in Blowing Point dates back several years and has undergone a number of changes and delays since work first began.
In May 2023, the former government announced the start of a private donor-funded project to include a covered basketball court, stands and a paved car park.
Clearing by a private contractor at the site began in June that year, and at the time the facility was expected to be completed “within a three month window” at a cost of US$300,000.
Construction work began that July and by October 2024 the steel framework had been erected and supporting amenities had started to be built.
In October 2025, Connor, who took over the role of sports minister that February, said the project works had been halted as the initial funding had been exhausted.
He said projected costs had risen to an estimated $847,365 plus an estimated annual maintenance cost of $25,000, which would have left the government “in a grave deficit of over $500,000”.
“The structure remains incomplete and not suitable for use,” he added.
In a press conference last November, Jeison Bryan, ministerial assistant in the Ministry of Sports, said a new higher spec facility was in the works.
He said “it’s best to invest once and for all” in a centre that has the required standards to host regional and international tournaments
Bryan told attendees that along with basketball, a newly designed facility would also be able to host volleyball players because the height would be increased.
The government had selected a California-based company B7 Globals LLC to provide materials at a cost of $215,000.
“This company will be providing the steel frame, the floor and the seating, the basketball rims and the deployment of two consultants to oversee the site installation process,” he explained.
At the time the demolition of the part-built facility was in the procurement stage, and it has since been completed.
