Created: Aug 28, 2026 03:28 PM (Updated: Aug 28, 2026 03:29 PM)
The grandstand at Flora Duffy Stadium is being renovated (File photograph by Tamell Simons)
The National Sports Centre will go without international sporting events for the next few months due to major renovations.
Work on the grandstand at Flora Duffy Stadium has made the venue unavailable, a spokesperson for the NSC Board of Trustees told The Royal Gazette. This has resulted in Bermuda losing out on hosting two Nations League matches in October, with Barbados to enjoy home advantage in those fixtures.
“The National Sports Centre will be pausing international hosting over the next couple of months to complete essential structural work on the grandstand roof,” the spokesperson said.
“Beginning in September, we will be removing the light standards mounted on the grandstand roof structure to allow for much-needed maintenance and refinishing.
“This work is being carried out alongside broader structural repairs to the grandstand roof itself, including surface preparation, protective coating and related works, none of which can safely proceed with the venue in active use for international matches.
“This is scheduled, planned maintenance rather than the result of any unexpected issue and reflects the NSC’s ongoing commitment to maintaining safe, high-quality facilities for our athletes, teams, and the community.
“Once the work is complete, the light standards and grandstand will be fully restored and brought back into service and we look forward to resuming our international hosting schedule.”
Meanwhile, while in support of the renovations being carried out, Opposition Leader and Shadow sports minister Ben Smith has questioned the timing.
“The investment now being made at the National Sports Centre is necessary and I welcome it,” Smith said.
“My concern is not that the Government is spending money. The question is why we have had to wait until so many things are broken, deteriorating or unavailable before the money is spent.
“The National Sports Centre is one of Bermuda’s most important public assets. It is where our children train, where clubs compete and where our national teams prepare to represent Bermuda.”
Smith, who is also the national swimming coach, indicated that they have also had issues with the aquatics centre.
“We have seen ongoing concerns around changing facilities at the Aquatics Centre,” he said.
“The timing clock and touchpads, the solar project, stadium infrastructure and now the lighting work that means Bermuda will not host international football matches this October.
“Each issue may have its own explanation, but together they point to a wider problem with maintenance, planning and coordination.
“When routine maintenance is delayed, the problem does not disappear. It normally becomes a bigger, more expensive problem and a small repair becomes a major repair.
“Equipment that could have been maintained has to be replaced. In some cases, athletes lose access to facilities or Bermuda loses the opportunity to host international competition.
“It affects the swimmer who trains every morning and expects the timing equipment to work when they compete and try to hit qualifying times. It affects young athletes who deserve proper changing facilities that don’t have safeguarding issues.
“It affects footballers who should be playing international matches in front of family and home supporters.”
Smith called on the Government to announce a long-term upkeep strategy, which gives an indication of the state of the facilities.
“Government should publish a five-year infrastructure and maintenance plan for the National Sports Centre, updated every year,” he added.
“It should show the condition of the major facilities and equipment, what work is required, when replacements are expected, how much they will cost and whether the funding has been allocated.
“There should also be closer coordination with our national sporting bodies before major works are scheduled, particularly where known international competition dates may be affected.
“Our athletes represent Bermuda with pride and often achieve extraordinary results for a country of our size. They deserve facilities that match their commitment.
“If Bermuda is serious about sports tourism, then those same facilities must be reliable enough to attract visiting teams, training camps and international events. Sports tourism cannot simply be something we talk about.
“We have to maintain the product and the objective should be simple. Look after the facilities we already have, plan before things fail, support our local athletes first and then use those facilities to bring more international sport and economic activity to Bermuda.”
