It is a case of a high five for Dubai Sports City with confirmation of a sell-out for the last of this year’s Pepsi Indian Premier (IPL) matches in the UAE, the 30 April clash between the defending champions Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad.
The final tickets were sold on Sunday morning meaning that all five match days at the Dubai International Stadium will be played out to packed houses.
Dubai Sports City General Manager – Sports Business Maqbul Dudhia said: “The news that the final tickets for Pepsi IPL matches at Dubai Sports City have been purchased really is fantastic news.
“We are the biggest cricketing venue in the UAE, with a capacity of 25,000, and for all five of our match-days to sell out is incredible.
“It is a tribute to cricket-loving fans of this country, and we are grateful for them coming along to enjoy the action with us.
“The fact they have done so time after time is also a tribute to the venue we have here.
“There is not a bad seat in the house and, with our hospitality boxes proving immensely popular as part of the sell-out, there has been something to please every type of fan.
“With the lights of the Ring of Fire blazing, we can look forward to giving the Pepsi IPL a really great send-off before it heads home to India for the last month of the tournament.”
Those without tickets for the matches on Monday 28 April – which features Royal Challengers Bangalore against Kings XI Punjab – and Wednesday 30 April are asked not to attend the venue as none will be available on the day.
And those fans fortunate enough to have tickets are asked to arrive as early as possible ahead of 6.30pm starts as the matches are taking place on weekdays.
Mr Dudhia added: “We want to ensure that fans see every single ball of the action on either or both days that they attend the Dubai International Stadium. At the same time we are aware that both matches are taking place on weekday evenings.
“That means that the volume of traffic around the venue will be higher than on a weekend as commuters will be looking to head home from work.
“On that basis, we would ask fans to seek to arrive at the venue as early as they can.”
Those fans with their own transport who have tickets are advised to avoid Hessa Street between Sheikh Zayed Road and the exit to Al Khail Road, and to use other connecting roads to Dubai Sports City via Al Khail Road and Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Road (formerly Emirates Road).
There is free parking for spectators near the stadium, situated next to Canal Residence and at North Point, a five-minute walk from the venue, all of which is signposted.
And for those spectators without their own transport, the F29 bus by Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) runs regularly to and from the Mall of the Emirates.
Arrangements for spectators with children are as per previous events at the Dubai International Stadium – all children over one year of age require a full-price ticket – and cameras with large, professional-style lenses will not be allowed.
Mr Dudhia added: “The response to our hosting of matches in the Pepsi IPL has been wonderful and we are very gratified by it.
“It is confirmation that everything has been right when it comes to pricing and availability and that is in keeping with our consistent policy at Dubai Sports City of seeking to ensure that our events are as accessible as possible to as many people as possible.”
The IPL is the latest high-profile cricket event to sweep the UAE and the Dubai International Cricket Stadium has played an integral role in hosting each tournament.
“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," continued Dudhia.
“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 versus 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 once again, for the Pepsi Indian Premier League, we have experienced huge crowds and a superb buzz, especially under the Ring of Fire floodlights.”
