The priciest seats in the house will now cost$25 000 a year, plus VAT, for corporate boxes at the Oval, and suites under construction in the new Mitchie Hewitt Stand and over the new media centre at the southern end are being offered at $50 000 and $75 000 a year.
All this, thanks to the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA).
But the increase hasnÕt gone down well with the big boys.
Tommy Pierce, managing director of United Insurance, which has held one of the seven original boxes in the Hall and Griffith Stand at the northern end of the ground since 1985, called the 163 per cent hike from $7 500 ÒappallingÓ.
ÒThere was an increase to $9 500 in 1996,Ó he noted. ÒBut this is beyond reason.Ó
Pierce said the holders - Barclays Bank, Shell, Goddard Enterprises, Barbados Shipping and Trading, Geddes Grant, Life of Barbados and United - are convening a meeting to discuss a response.
Calvin Hope, chairman of the BCAÕs marketing committee, said the new prices were Òbased on the expansion and refurbishment programme for existing and new facilities for patrons, press and corporate hospitalityÓ.
He considers it value for money, too, citing upcoming tours by England this season, Australia in 1999, South Africa in 2000 and possible World Cup matches in 2003.
Hope said the boxes and suites would Òprovide corporate entities with a substantial increase in advertising coverage and public relations opportunities to build their brands and customer relationshipsÓ.
He said the only Òcall of concernÓ he took came from Goddard Enterprises.
ÒThe president (Tony Marshall) has indicated very good feedback on the new suites and companies like Barclays, Shell, Royal Bank, Sandy Lane and Royal Westmoreland have expressed an interest,Ó Hope said.
The six $75 000-a-year luxury air-conditioned suites in the media centre will be 14-feet by 17-feet, accommodating 16 and positioned behind the wicket.
The ten larger, deluxe suites in the Mitchie Hewitt Stand accommodate 20.
They are to be cooled by ceiling fans.
By comparison, the hospitality boxes at the QueenÕs Park Oval in Trinidad, which accommodate 30, rent for TT$75 000 (about BDS$25 000).
Another box-holder, who requested anonymity, complained of embarrassing lack of water and security during matches.
ÒWeÕve had to make do with low water pressure or no water and the boxes have often been broken into,Ó he said.
ÒLast year, we had to provide our own security but still had to move out food, drinks, plates and cutlery at the end of a match.Ó
ÒWhen you have that sort of background and you get an increase like this, itÕs naturally a shock,Ó he added.
Hope said floodlights, additional hospitality suites and upgrading of stands and the playing area are in the BCAÕs future expansion plans.