Hill calls for commercial shift in Jamaican football

The Legend Jamaica Premier League must move beyond its reliance on talent and become a sustainable business capable of SPORT twitter/jamaicaobserver www.jamaicaobserver.com THE DAILY OBSERVER Thursday, October 15, 2026 creating jobs, attracting investment and strengthening clubs, says Owen hill, chief executive Officer (CeO) of Professional Football Jamaica Limited (PFJL). Speaking at Tuesday night’s launch of the Legend Jamaica Premier League at AC Hotel Kingston, Hill challenged corporate Jamaica, club owners and supporters to help build a professional football industry that generates economic activity and keeps more of the sport’s value in Jamaica. “We cannot demand a worldclass football product while financing it like a hobby,” Hill said. He argued that Jamaica’s wealth of football talent must be matched by sound business structures if the sport is to achieve lasting success. The launch also saw Wisynco Group CEO Andrew Mahfood announce a $300-million partnership over five years. The Legend brand’s partnership with the country’s top-flight competition will run through 2031. Hill said football must be viewed as more than a series of matches, pointing to its potential to generate revenue through ticket sales, broadcasting, tourism, digital content, and player development. He cited the English Premier League as an example of how strong commercial structures can transform a popular sport into a major economic engine, supporting more than 100,000 jobs. Hill argued that Jamaican clubs must move away from a culture of survival and become commercially viable enterprises capable of attracting investment and providing more secure employment. He outlined his vision for the local game over the next five years, including clubs operating from commercially active facilities, well-attended Monday night fixtures, improved stadium experiences and football content reaching audiences across the Caribbean, North America, Europe and the Jamaican diaspora. He envisages stadiums filled with families and supporters who make attending matches part of their regular entertainment activities. Increased attendance and digital engagement, he argued, would help clubs attract sponsorship, improve their facilities and strengthen their operations. Hill said achieving that vision would require a collective effort, with corporate Jamaica investing beyond traditional sponsorship arrangements, clubs improving their management and supporters attending matches and actively backing their teams. The Legend partnership, he suggested, provides a platform for the league to strengthen its commercial appeal and attract further investment. The JPL is seeking to build on the professional structure established under PFJL, with greater emphasis on commercial development, media exposure and the overall matchday experience. For Hill, success must be measured not only by the quality of football on the pitch but also by the benefits the industry delivers to the wider economy. These include employment, better sporting facilities, stronger clubs and improved opportunities for young players to develop their careers at home. He urged stakeholders to seize the opportunity to reshape Jamaican football, arguing that talent alone would not be enough without investment, sound management and a sustainable commercial model.