Sting for sale? - Big offers rolling in for iconic show

Several offers have reportedly been pouring in for the purchase of Sting, the iconic 40-year-old dancehall and reggae show, which missed its last staging due to financial difficulties.

A source close to Supreme Promotions, the owners of Sting, claimed that numerous individuals have expressed interest in acquiring the brand.

"A lot of people have been calling and asking if [Isaiah] Laing is interested in selling Sting - up to four persons called since last week. Some are offering $7 million, while others are offering $10 to $15 million," the source told THE STAR.

Isaiah Laing, head of Supreme Promotions, declined to comment on the matter.

Dubbed 'The Greatest One-Night Reggae and Dancehall Show On Earth,' Sting was first staged in 1984. It has provided a platform from many of Jamaica's top entertainers to showcase their talents, while earning the reputation of being the stage on which the baddest DJs are crowned.

However, recent years have been turbulent for the event, which went on hiatus from 2015 to 2019. The annual Boxing Day show failed to take place last December after the withdrawal of the production company responsible for the event.

Despite December's no-show, the well-placed source maintained that the principals of Supreme Promotions remain confident in the brand's value.

"Anybody wanting to buy Sting would know that Sting is the premier dancehall event in the world. Also, it carries a hefty price tag because it is dubbed 'The Greatest One-Night Reggae and Dancehall Show on Earth' and it always lives up to its name. It just needs the support to get back to that form," the source told THE STAR.

It is understood that the Supreme Promotions team is open to considering the offers but will only sell Sting if the price is right and the investor is committed to preserving the show's legacy.

"It all depends on what they want to do with it because it is here and not getting the love it should. Dem seh a king neva get crown in his own country, so maybe if it goes overseas, those people will appreciate it," said the source, hinting at the possibility of Sting being staged outside Jamaica.

"Sting is the show that makes artistes who they are today, and the world knows that. That's what makes it so dominant. Therefore, the buyer would have to uphold the brand because there are people who will aim to just buy it and dump it. So, one of the main clauses would be that 'There has to be continuity of the show'," THE STAR was told.