SHOWING upcoming World Cup matches publicly on a big screen would be “counter-intuitive” as it could take business away from the hospitality industry which “need as much business as possible right now”, an assistant minister has said.
However, Senator Serena Kersten said the government may rethink scrapped plans to host watch-a-longs at Howard Davis Park should England beat Norway in Saturday’s quarter-final.
A government spokesperson confirmed earlier this week that plans to show the closing stages of the World Cup have been abandoned due to a lack of sponsorship.
In a statement, it was confirmed that while ministers had agreed to contribute “some” funding towards the initiative, the privately-organised project will no longer go ahead after additional commercial backing could not be secured and it was not deemed appropriate tto use further taxpayer funds.
The late-night kick-offs of the remaining fixtures also influenced the decision not to provide any further public funding as any screenings would be “less suitable for families”.
England are due to play Norway in the quarter-finals on Saturday at 10pm. If the Three Lions can get past the Vikings, they would then face either Argentina or Switzerland in the semi-finals at 8pm on Wednesday 15 June.
The World Cup 2026 final is scheduled for 8pm on Sunday 19 July.
Senator Kersten, who holds political responsibility for sport, said that the screen would be “counter-productive” because of the investment pubs and bars have made to meet the requirements for license extensions and added that the hospitality industry needs “as much business as possible right now”.
She said, however, that “if [England] got to a final or semi-final we might have to revisit” the current plan, especially because the kick-off times are “more family-friendly”.
At the time, then-director of local services Paul McGinnety said the initiative was intended to “bring people together” through sport, culture and free activities.
The plans would have seen a giant screen installed between 9 and 19 July, showing Wimbledon during the day before broadcasting the World Cup quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.
The project was being organised through the International Cultural Centre, with support from Jersey Sport and community organisations.
Organisers had hoped corporate sponsorship would unlock an even broader programme, including coverage of the Commonwealth Games later this summer.
