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19 March 2024

IPL 7 UAE tickets on sale ... Over 100,000 snapped up

The first phase of Pepsi IPL 7 is all set to roll out from Abu Dhabi April 16.

Published
By Cricket Correspondent

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 – Saturday 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 Friday 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 Wednesday April 23, Royal Challengers Bangalore against Kings XI Punjab on Monday April 28 and Mumbai Indians’ match-up with Sunrisers Hyderabad on Wednesday April 30 – all have slightly better availability at this stage.

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) 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 AED30 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 Saturday 19 April and Friday 25 April.

“Tickets are also available on line at ticketmaster.ae, AJ Sports and branches of Lulu Hypermarket throughout Dubai so there is every opportunity for people to avoid missing out on one of the biggest sporting spectacles ever to come to the UAE.

“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 have already hosted Pakistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka, as well as matches in the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier, the Asian Cricket Council Under-19 Cup, the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup and the Pakistan v England physical disability series.

“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.”

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 venue is staging a total of seven matches in the tournament, which are as follows:

Saturday April 19 – Royal Challengers Bangalore v Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders v Delhi Daredevils

Wednesday April 23 – Rajasthan Royals v Chennai Super Kings

Friday April 25 – Sunrisers Hyderabad v Delhi Daredevils and Chennai Super Kings v Mumbai Indians

Monday April 28 – Kings XI Punjab v Royal Challengers Bangalore

Wednesday April 30 – Mumbai Indians v Sunrisers Hyderabad

SHARJAH STADIUM

Sale of tickets for the UAE leg of IPL 7 have begun at selected Lulu Hypermarkets in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah, have begun from Monday.

Sharjah Cricket also announced the sale of tickets for IPL 2014 at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, according to Mazhar Khan, GM - Sharjah Cricket.
 
The Lulu Hypermarkets outlets where tickets will be available, are as follows:
 
Dubai (four): Al Barsha, Al Qusais, Al Karama, Arabian Centre

Sharjah (three): Al Wahda, Al Nahda, Mai Saloon

Abu Dhabi (seven): Al Wahda Mall, Khalidiya Mall, Mushrif Mall, Madinat Zayed, Capital Mall, Al Raha Mall, Mazyad Centre.

Stadium box-office sales will start on Thursday, April 10.

The tickets are available in different denominations. The minimum price for the Abu Dhabi matches is Dh20 for a single match, and Dh30 for double-headers.

In Dubai, a ticket for one match will start at Dh30, and Dh50 for double-headers. 

In Sharjah, tickets will start at Dh30 for a single match, and Dh40 for the double-headers.

ONLINE SALES

Tickets for the UAE leg of Pepsi IPL 2014 are selling fast with organisers claiming almost 40,000 tickets have been purchased online, since the sales began on Thursday, April 3.

"20,000 of these were snapped up within an hour of going live," according to a press release issued by Sanjay Patel, secretary of BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India).

"This is a remarkable start. The sale of tickets off the field will be complemented by some exhilarating cricket on the field, in the fifteen days from 16 April 2014 to 30 April 2014," said Ranjib Biswal, Chairman, Governing Council, IPL. 

Chief Executive of the Emirates Cricket Board, David East, feels that those who have not yet bought tickets should get online to make their purchase before the sold-out signs are displayed.

“It’s pleasing to see the way online ticket sales have sold for the United Arab Emirates leg of the Pepsi IPL 2014. Apart from the cricket fans, the interest of cricket is growing among the people in the UAE. This is evident from the number of tickets sold on the very first day. The spectators will come in huge numbers to support and savour the IPL," East said.

Tickets are available online on www.iplt20.com and www.ticketmaster.ae.

IPL MANIA

Cricket mania is reaching fever pitch as the UAE bats for the Indian Premier League matches that will kick off in two weeks amid the glitz, glamour and the sporting spirit that fans are eagerly anticipating.

Following an announcement by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that the first phase of Pepsi IPL will be jointly held in the UAE from April 16-30, Dubai is gearing up to welcome fans from near and far for the league’s seventh season.

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The BCCI has announced the ticket pricing and availability for the UAE leg of the event, with tickets going on sale now. 

The starting price of tickets is from as low as Dh20 for a single match and Dh30 for double-headers in Abu Dhabi. The UAE capital will sport seven of the 20 IPL 7 matches. 

Tickets can be purchased online on www.iplt20.com and www.ticketmaster.ae. They will also be available at selected Lulu Hypermarkets in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah, from Sunday, April 6, whilst stadium box-office sales will start on Thursday, April 10.

Starting on April 19, Dubai will host seven of the IPL’s 20 UAE matches at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

In Dubai, which will also play host to seven IPL 7 matches, the tickets are priced at Dh30 for a single match and Dh50 for a double-header while in Sharjah, which will see six matches, the pricing is Dh30 for a single match and Dh40 for double-headers. Ticket prices go up to Dh250 for platinum seating. 

Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) maintains that the games will be a major pull for tourists in the emirate as it further adds to the city’s growing calendar of entertainment and events.

“This is an excellent opportunity for Dubai to once again showcase to the world that it is a first-class sporting destination,” said Hamad bin Mejren, Executive Director of DTCM. “Among sports fans, the IPL will attract global attention and will put Dubai and the UAE firmly in the spotlight, further cementing Dubai’s position as a dynamic events destination in the Menasa region.”

Refer to the table below for further details of the ticket prices -



Along with being a key draw and highlight event for visitors to Dubai, the IPL will also ensure that the eyes of the world will be fixed on the emirates throughout the 14-day tournament, with cricket fans the world over tuning in to watch each of the matches.

“World-class sporting events such as the IPL are also a major focus for Dubai to achieve His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai's Tourism Vision 2020 of welcoming 20 million guests by 2020,” added Bin Mejren. “Hosting of the IPL is both a fantastic achievement for the city and its global event standing, as well as a key stepping stone in this vision being realised.”

Winding up to deliver its seven matches, Dubai International Cricket Stadium’s first fixture will see the Royal Challengers Bangalore face the Mumbai Indians on Saturday, April 19, at 2.30pm UAE time.

That same day, the Kolkata Knight Riders will go head to head against the Delhi Daredevils with on-pitch action taking place from 6.30pm UAE time.

On April 23 at 6.30pm UAE time, Rajasthan Royals will take on Chennai Super Kings, while April 25th will see Sunrisers Hyderabad face Delhi Daredevils at 2.30pm UAE time, and Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians will battle from 6.30pm UAE time.

Rounding out the Dubai-based matches will be Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kings XI Punjab game at 6.30pm UAE time on April 28, followed by Mumbai Indians match on Sunrisers Hyderabad at 6.30pm UAE time on April 30.

Following a recent inspection of the facilities in the UAE, MV Sridhar, General Manager of Cricket Operations, BCCI, said: “We are very happy with the facilities at the venues that will be hosting the UAE leg of the Pepsi IPL 2014. The infrastructure is on par with any of the leading international venues.

“Considering the amount of cricket that has been played at these venues, the ground and pitch maintenance is noteworthy. We are confident that the facilities and ground conditions will provide the platform for an exciting first leg of the Pepsi IPL 2014,” continued Sridhar.

International Cricket Council (ICC) Chief Executive David Richardson, who is based in the UAE at the ICC headquarters in Dubai Sports City, welcomed the decision for the first leg of IPL to be played in the UAE: “The BCCI’s decision to stage the first part of the IPL 2014 season in the UAE is great news for the people of the UAE. It will do wonders for cricket in the region, in particular in Dubai where the ICC is located.

“Dubai’s hosting of the IPL will complete a remarkable season of cricket in the UAE, which has already seen the successful staging of the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2013 and the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2014,” added Richardson.

Aside from Dubai, matches will also be played in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.