TTPFL ExCo: Gate receipts split with clubs who retain marketing opportunities

“[…] The relevant TTPFL match day staff work with each designated home team to ensure standards and systems are met and gate receipts are split 50/50 between home teams and the TTPFL/TTFA after venue rental/tents/tables/chairs and security costs are deducted.

“[…] A keen focus of the TTPFL Executive Committee has been the thrust to provide clubs with the best platform for them to commercialise their assets. Designated home teams on match days have complete discretion to commercialise the venue through vending, merchandising, sponsor signage and other forms of income generation…”

The following response to questions posed to the TTPFL in a Letter to Editor was submitted to Wired868 by the TTPFL Executive Committee:

The Trinidad and Tobago Premier Football League (“TTPFL”) returned this weekend after a break for Carnival in the twin island republic.

The goals continued to flow in Tier 1, while Tier 2 has a slightly lengthier break and will return on 24 February 2024. The TTPFL has enjoyed consistent growth since inception and we look forward to an acceleration of that trend.

The governance structure of the league comprises an executive committee and oversight body reporting into the Normalisation Committee as the Board of the TTFA.

(The TTPFL Oversight Body is chaired by David O’Brien and includes Colin Wharfe, Renee John-Williams, Jameson Rigues, Nicholas Gomez, Leon Ramdeen and Patrice Charles.

The TTPFL Executive Committee is chaired by Colin Wharfe and includes Amiel Mohammed, Richard Mason, Kairon Serrette, and Yale Antoine.)

The structure, including the constituent members, is detailed on pages 15 to 18 of TTPFL Season 1 Report. This Report was published on the TTFA website on 23 November 2023.

Each Tier has a representative on the oversight body and the TTPFL executive committee remain available to discuss any relevant matters with participating clubs.

Some of the operations of the TTPFL are performed by existing staff/consultants to the TTFA. Their remuneration is covered by the TTFA. Only members of the executive committee, as the daily operational arm of the League, receive financial remuneration from TTPFL.

The second season of the TTPFL has continued to show growth with average attendance increasing by 23% from this same stage in Season 1 (rounds 1 to 10).

This appears to be in no small part due to the availability of the refurbished Hasely Crawford Stadium (which was not available in Season 1), the introduction of the Dwight Yorke Stadium (via FC Phoenix’s participation) and to the work of clubs on and off the field.

Data related to Tier 2 attendance is unfortunately not available as unlike Tier 1, Tier 2 Clubs are fully responsible for securing their home venues and have full autonomy on gate receipts and other forms of commercialization (vendor arrangements, etc).

The operations of the League, which were and continue to be communicated to clubs prior to and throughout respective seasons via memos and meetings, are managed by the TTPFL/TTFA to ensure that there is consistency in process and systems for all matches.

This homogeneous approach to management at matches has allowed for ease of data collection, reporting and management of venue controller relationships (specifically for Tier 1), which are detailed in pages 60 to 61 of the TTPFL Season 1 Report.

In the TTPFL Season 1 Report, the statistics and figures from Season 1 for gross gate receipt revenue, attendance metrics, income/expenditure and player demographics are readily available.

The TTPFL/TTFA accepts the financial liability for all match venues in Tier 1. For clarity: venue rental, costs for tents, benches, tables, ambulance, inter-island airfare, ticketing officers/match day staff and security are paid directly by the TTPFL/TTFA to the respective venue controller or vendor.

The relevant TTPFL match day staff work with each designated home team to ensure standards and systems are met and gate receipts are split 50/50 between home teams and the TTPFL/TTFA after venue rental/tents/tables/chairs and security costs are deducted.

While the league continues to show growth, 100% of matches do not yet record specific profits (gate receipt revenue less venue rental and security)—but noting the importance of the development of the product long term, the TTPFL absorbs any such losses.

These gate receipt policies and systems were developed by the TTPFL Executive Committee in conjunction with the affected clubs and when finalized, were discussed and communicated to the clubs prior to the start of the season.

A keen focus of the Executive Committee has been the thrust to provide clubs with the best platform for them to commercialise their assets. Designated home teams on match days have complete discretion to commercialise the venue through vending, merchandising, sponsor signage and other forms of income generation.

Clubs such as Prisons Service FC, Caledonia FC, FC Phoenix, Heritage Petroleum Point Fortin Civic and Miscellaneous Police FC in particular have been making notable strides in these areas.

To enhance the marketing and commercial aspects of the League, the TTPFL has entered into match day commercial activity to supplement the club’s work and to elevate the fan experience.

A few of these details from Season 1 are outlined in pages 58 and 59 of the TTPFL Season 1 Report and have continued into Season 2 with clubs actively collaborating with the TTPFL for match day entertainment.

Over the two seasons, these include cash and product sponsorship from Blue Waters, NGC, Hadco, SportsMax and Associated Brands where monies are allocated within the stipulations of the sponsorship agreement.

A major part of the brand and value proposition of the TTPFL Tier 1 has been the broadcast partnership with SportsMax and FIFA+. This has allowed clubs and players to be visible to an extensive regional and global market and it has increased the profile of Trinidad and Tobago football.

This development, in synergy with the clubs’ work at the ground level, has seen an increase in corporate investment into clubs over the course of the two seasons, with Heritage Petroleum Limited being the main sponsor for Point Fortin Civic, Tiger Tanks Limited being the main sponsor for Club Sando FC in 2023 and Miscellaneous Marketing and Massy Motors committing to sponsor partnerships with Police FC and Caledonia FC respectively in Season 2.

This is a positive trend that we are working with clubs to continue to capitalize on and improve.

We also hope to announce broadcast arrangements for Tier 2 matches shortly and soon. At League level, we hope to announce additional collaborations with the private sector, as the dust has settled on the Carnival season.

The TTPFL may still be in the infancy stages of its development but it has seen significant and targeted growth in little over one year of operation.

We continue to work with the FIFA Professional Football Department and the Government of Trinidad and Tobago through the Ministry of Sport and Community Development and the Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago, which have been sterling supporters of this enterprise.

All reports and methodologies are shared with and developed with the stakeholders of the League and we know by continuing together, Trinidad and Tobago football will continue to evolve positively.

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