Top 5 — Mason Greenwood's Jamaica Switch Not (Yet) Cleared
PLUS: The Bahamas' next NBA star, sports tourism's $114B impact, and more
Whatsup Squad,
Let’s get into the top stories of the week:
⭐️ FEATURE STORY
Mason Greenwood's Jamaica Switch Not (Yet) Cleared
Despite reports over the weekend claiming Mason Greenwood was cleared to represent Jamaica, Reggae Boyz team manager Roy Simpson says otherwise.
The 23-year-old, who qualifies through his father, submitted his formal request for a one-time nationality switch from England to Jamaica—but according to Simpson, FIFA still requires documentation from his parents before a passport can be issued.
In 2022, Greenwood was charged with attempted rape, assault, and coercive behavior. While those charges were dropped in 2023, he has not been recalled to England’s national team and is no longer eligible to play for them.
His switch to Jamaica has generated anticipation and controversy.
For Jamaica, it could mean a major talent boost and a signal of its intent to compete globally. For Greenwood, it’s a chance to reset his career and legacy under a new flag.
Bottom Line - Greenwood’s potential inclusion raises difficult questions about redemption, accountability, and brand risk. It could boost Jamaica’s World Cup hopes, but not without polarizing fans and sponsors. It also reflects a broader trend in Caribbean sports where federations are looking to diaspora talent to build world-class rosters.
Read more
🇩🇴 Dominican Republic
Punta Cana Locks in PGA TOUR Stop Through 2027
The DR’s flagship golf event isn’t going anywhere.
The Corales Puntacana Championship, which hosted its 8th edition this past weekend, will continue through 2027.
The PGA TOUR’s only stop in the Dominican Republic has become a powerful tourism driver and community initiative. Proceeds benefit the Grupo Puntacana Foundation, which has provided healthcare and education to over 150,000 locals and trained 8,000+ students.
Bottom Line - With 7 billion digital impressions and global media reach, the Corales Puntacana Championship promotes the Dominican Republic and Punta Cana globally as a leading golf destination in the Caribbean.
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🇧🇸 The Bahamas
VJ Edgecombe Declares for NBA Draft
While running a youth clinic in Bimini, Bahamas, freshman Baylor guard VJ Edgecombe announced his entry into the NBA Draft.
After going toe to toe with juniors and seniors as a 13-year-old at Buddy Hield’s basketball camp in the Bahamas, VJ decided to head to the States to chase his dream of making it the NBA and supporting his family.
Projected as a top‑5 pick, he’d become the Bahamas’ fourth first‑rounder in the last decade, following Buddy Hield (2016), Deandre Ayton (2018), and Kai Jones (2021).
Bottom Line - Edgecombe’s ascent is validation of the Bahamas’ basketball pipeline. Buddy paved the way for VJ, and now VJ is paving the way for the next generation.
Check out his announcement
🇰🇾 Cayman Islands
Cayman Hosts First North American Cup
The Cayman Islands is hosting the inaugural North American Cup, featuring national teams from the USA, Canada, Bermuda, the Bahamas, and Cayman.
This T20 tournament—born from ICC discussions—promises to be a significant step forward in developing and promoting cricket across the Americas.
Bottom Line - The North American Cup will serve as a catalyst for sports tourism, promoting Cayman’s vibrant sporting culture and the nation’s commitment to enhancing international collaboration.
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🇺🇸 America
Spectator Sports Tourism Generated $114B in Economic Impact
According to Sports ETA, spectator sports tourism brought in $47.1B in direct spending and $114.4B in total economic impact last year, supporting over 664,000 jobs.
It also contributed $8.5 billion in state and local tax revenues. The new data shows that 110 million non-local attendees traveled 50 miles or more to attend sporting events in 2024.
This year’s analysis focused exclusively on spectator sports tourism, including professional, minor league, and collegiate regular season games. It excludes amateur and youth events, which were the focus of Sports ETA's previous benchmark report in 2023.
Bottom Line - The U.S. hosted 1.8M international fans in 2024, generating $3.9B in direct spending. With the FIFA World Cup, LA Olympics, and more on the way, spectator sports tourism in the U.S. (and beyond) is expected to grow over the next decade. The report should serve as a blueprint for the Caribbean, highlighting the importance of tracking and measurement to prove ROI for sporting events.
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Until next time ✌🏾
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