From a loss position of $370 000 in 1997, the BCA made a profit of $450 000 in 1998.

According to the latest BCA annual report and statement of accounts, the improvement resulted from substantial increased revenue from advertising, rental of boxes, subscriptions and entrance fees.

The basis of this change is a number of revenue improvements:

Revenue from boxes has almost increased 10-fold.

Revenue from subscriptions has increased by more than three-fold.

Revenue from tenders has increased three-fold.

Revenue from advertising has doubled.

Overall revenue in 1998 stood at $2.28 million, up from $1.07 million in 1997.

The general fund moved from $4.8 million at the start of the year to $5.2 million, again a reversal of previous trends.

BCA president Tony Marshall, in his report, wrote to members: To have turned around from a loss of $353 000 to a profit of approximately $450 000, and this without any profit sharing from the West Indies Cricket Board, speaks conclusively to the transformation of the operations of the association to a business ethos.

The board is doing all it can to improve our revenue stream and it has realised a good measure of success.

Most of the increase in revenue was due to sales of executive and deluxe suites in the renovated Mitchie Hewitt Stand and the new media centre. Total revenue from the rental of boxes amounted to $830 000 compared with $88 500 the previous year.

Income from advertising also leapfrogged from $220 254 to $402 000 in spite of the fact that the WICB took control of the space for signboards covering both sides of the sight screens at Kensington Oval.

There was a lot of debate last November over a proposal to raise ordinary members annual subscriptions by 300 per cent.

The membership, however, opted for an increase from $100 to $200. With the number of ordinary members moving from 671 to 923, total revenue from subscriptions and entrance fees went from $95 651 to $344 493.

Marshall said the figures showed there was a need to give consideration to a further increase in subs.

It is clear that there is a need to reconsider this matter, moreso, if it is accepted that the administrative costs of the association should be funded by the membership, he said.

The annual general meeting of the BCA is due to be held on July 22.