Saint Lucia’s newly announced partnership with English Premier League champions Arsenal Football Club will include the development of a youth football academy on the island, creating opportunities for young players while also boosting the country’s international profile as a tourism destination.
The multi-year agreement, announced on Tuesday at the Royalton Saint Lucia Resort, will designate Saint Lucia as Arsenal’s Official Destination Partner, beginning with the 2026-27 season.
It will feature prominent displays of Brand Saint Lucia at the Emirates Stadium, particularly during halftime, as well as across Arsenal’s official digital platforms, including team-centred podcasts.
According to the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority (SLTA), the official partnership “means exposure to this network of receptive supporters to introduce them to Saint Lucia and ultimately drive economic benefits to the island’s tourism industry.”
The project is part of the SLTA’s broader sports tourism mandate as it seeks to partner with major brands across the sports industry. In recent years, Brand Saint Lucia has partnered with the New York Yankees and the Toronto Raptors in similar initiatives.
Minister for Tourism, Commerce, Investment, Creative Industries, Culture and Heritage, Dr Ernest Hilaire, said this collaboration reflects a shared vision between the UEFA Champions League runners-up and the Helen of the West Indies.
“This partnership is grounded in shared values of social responsibility, resilience and sustainability, reflected in both Arsenal’s work with its supporters and community, and our commitment to our people.
“We look forward to showcasing Saint Lucia’s vibrant culture, dynamic events calendar and natural beauty to Arsenal supporters worldwide,” he told the gathering that included Saint Lucian ambassadors, sports icons Daren Sammy and Julien Alfred, and local Gunners fans.
Chief Commercial Officer for Arsenal FC, Juliet Slot, described the agreement as “an exciting partnership that gives us this opportunity and will help fuel our ambitions of growth and success,” adding, “We want every Gooner, whether they’re in Islington or Saint Lucia, whether they’ve been supporting us for 50 years or five, to feel and see themselves in our club.”
A key component of the partnership is the development of an Academy Hub in Saint Lucia, creating mentorship opportunities and development pathways for young players to reach their full potential.
Minister for Youth Development and Sport and vocal Arsenal supporter Kenson Casmir expressed his excitement about the initiative: “We know that Arsenal is located in the city of London, and for our establishment of this academy, I am so glad that we are going to be establishing this academy in the city of Castries, the Sab Playing Field facility.”
Members of the Arsenal team are expected to visit Saint Lucia in the coming months to film promotional content as part of the partnership. This content will also feature an undisclosed Arsenal legend.
W
Good vibes.
The only thing is that it is highlighting Tourism more than the Sports itself. I hope that it is not so focused on Tourism that the youngsters who do not make the cut get side lined.
The Sab is the only field in the City and its users are often deprived of its use for months, due to Carnival events. I am calling on the authorities to return the field to its usable state asap after carnival is over.
It is sad that sometimes that for the entire summer vacation the field is out of use because the structures are left there, or the turf is not suitable for play. I am calling on the Minister of Sports to ensure that the field is restored to its proper use at the earliest.
With the crime situation as it is, our young people need to be exposed to positive alternatives such as Sports and spiritual development. If this is left unchecked, the Tourism dollar that we are desperately chasing after, will be swiftly lost due to escalating crime.
Let us take a holistic approach to our country’s development which includes the development of the “people” and not just the economy.
Good initiative but how much is it costing tax payers