The trend shows it is close to sell-outs for both double-headers to be held at Dubai Sports City
Tickets are selling fast for Pepsi Indian Premier League (IPL) matches at the Dubai International Stadium at Dubai Sports City.
The two double-headers at the venue — April 19 with Royal Challengers Bangalore playing the defending champions Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders up against Delhi Daredevils, and six days later on April 25, when Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Daredevils play ahead of Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians, are both close to sell-outs.
The other matches taking place at Dubai Sports City — Rajasthan Royals against MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings on April 23, Royal Challengers Bangalore against Kings XI Punjab on April 28 and Mumbai Indians’ match-up with Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 30 — all have slightly better availability at this stage, a Press release said.
But tickets are being snapped up rapidly, bringing with it the likelihood of sell-outs in the near future. All matches are 6.30pm starts (Dubai time) except the first matches of the double-headers on April 19 (Royal Challengers Bangalore v Mumbai Indians) and April 25 (Sunrisers Hyderabad v Delhi Daredevils), which begin at 2.30pm (Dubai time).
And access to Dubai Sports City is now easier than ever, even for those people without their own transport, as the F29 bus operated by Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) now runs regularly from the Mall of the Emirates. In fact, during the Pepsi IPL, the RTA will be laying on extra buses to cope with the demand for people to get to the Dubai International Stadium.
The box office at the Dubai Sports City head office is now open for sales from 10am – 5pm Sunday to Thursday, with opening hours likely to be extended closer to the time of the opening matches. Prices for matches start from Dh30 (one match in a day) and Dh50 (double-headers) and go up to Dh200 (one match) and Dh250 (double-headers) for Platinum seating.
Tickets are also available in Dubai at Lulu Hypermarket branches in Al Qusais, Al Barsha, Karama and Arabian Centre, as well as at AJ Sports and on line at www.ticketmaster.ae. The Dubai Sports City box office can be contacted on 055 100 7646 and 055 100 7655 in case of queries.
Commenting on the opening of the Dubai Sports City box office for Pepsi IPL tickets and looking ahead to the matches, Dubai Sports City General Manager — Sports Business Maqbul Dudhia said: “Ticket sales for matches in the Pepsi Indian Premier League at Dubai Sports City have already been exceptional.
“We are already close to selling out our blockbuster double-headers involving Royal Challengers Bangalore, Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Daredevils on 19 April as well as the one featuring Sunrisers Hyderabad, Delhi Daredevils, Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians on 25 April. Tickets for the other matches are selling fast too.
“Those sales are only likely to increase now the Dubai Sports City box office is open and we get closer to the start of the tournament. We have seven matches involving all eight franchises including three for the defending champions Mumbai Indians, a squad that includes Lasith Malinga, Kieron Pollard, Rohit Sharma and Michael Hussey, and two for the Delhi Daredevils side that features Kevin Pietersen, JP Duminy and Ross Taylor.
“We also have two matches for the Sunrisers Hyderabad including Dale Steyn, David Warner, Darren Sammy and Shikhar Dhawan and two with Royal Challengers Bangalore with the likes of Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers. With other stars including Sunil Narine, Shane Watson, Sanju Samson, Mitchell Johnson and Virender Sehwag all set to be in action the list of top names coming to Dubai Sports City just goes on and on.
“The level of interest in tickets for Pepsi IPL matches has already been exceptional, and with prices starting at just Dh30 for single matches, we are anticipating big crowds, something already confirmed with the near sell-outs for 19 and 25 April. On that basis, our message is a simple one: buy now or risk being disappointed. There is every incentive for fans to attend as five of our seven matches start at 6.30pm UAE time which means people have the opportunity to attend after work, and we also have four of our seven matches on a Friday or Saturday, including both our double-headers on April 19 and April 25.
“The fact we are staging matches in the Pepsi Indian Premier League is a continuation of our biggest ever season of cricket at Dubai Sports City.
“We are specialists in staging outstanding Twenty20 cricket as the Dubai International Stadium has hosted more Twenty20 Internationals than any other venue in world cricket. The atmosphere at the Dubai International Stadium is always exceptional and with the Pepsi Indian Premier League arriving we anticipate big crowds and a superb atmosphere, especially under the Ring of Fire floodlights.”
