Cricket West Indies (CWI) has welcomed the approval by the government of Antigua and Barbuda for the establishment of a new campus and high-performance centre at Coolidge, describing the initiative as a transformational investment in the future of West Indies cricket.

The project will be implemented in phases between 2026 and 2030 and will see the redevelopment of the 20-acre campus in Coolidge, solely owned by CWI, into a fully integrated ecosystem for elite cricket development, sports science, education and commercial activity.

The proposal was approved by Cabinet following a recent meeting with Prime Minister Gaston Browne and Minister of Sport Daryll Matthew, where details of the project were shared by CWI representatives including President Dr Kishore Shallow and CEO Chris Dehring.

Shallow welcomed the government’s backing, saying the facility represents a critical step for regional cricket.

“We are deeply appreciative of the Government of Antigua and Barbuda for their vision and support of this transformative initiative,” he said in a press statement.

“This Campus stands as a pivotal investment in the future of West Indies cricket, providing a centralized platform to strengthen our player development pathway and elevate the standard, consistency, and competitiveness of our teams across all formats.”

Sports Minister Daryll Matthew with Dr. Kishore Shallow, CWI President (photo by Cricket West Indies)

He added that the campus would also help CWI build a more diversified financial model.

“Equally significant, it enhances our capacity to build a more robust and diversified financial model, harnessing the synergies of sport, tourism, content production, and innovation to secure the long-term sustainability and growth of West Indies cricket,” Shallow said.

The facility will serve as a central hub for high-performance training, advanced analytics and athlete preparation, with the aim of ensuring players across the region benefit from modern infrastructure, data-driven coaching and integrated support systems.

The inclusion of a full-time cricket academy and high school will provide a structured environment for young talent, combining academic development with elite cricket training.

Dehring spoke to the importance of the project for the long-term growth of the sport regionally.

“The development of a world-class High-Performance Campus is a necessary first step in modernizing our production pipeline, fully embracing the use of advanced technology including simulators and other high-tech training equipment,” he said.

He noted that while the Coolidge campus would benefit all Caribbean countries, further investment would be needed across the region.

“But we can’t stop here. This campus will benefit all countries in the Caribbean, and we hope Antigua and Barbuda’s lead will inspire others to establish similar facilities,” Dehring added.

CWI also highlighted the project’s commercial value, framing it as a step toward building a more sustainable and diversified financial future for the organisation.

The integration of sports tourism, broadcasting infrastructure, events and hospitality offerings is expected to unlock new revenue streams and reduce reliance on traditional income sources.

The co-location of CWI’s administrative headquarters and key partners, alongside a dedicated broadcast and production facility, will position the region as a hub for global cricket content creation and distribution.