Going Out: Al Ghandi Auto will try to recreate the Theatre of Dreams

Matt Jones - Editor 10:23 17/05/2015
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  • Three in a row? Al Ghandi Auto have screened two previous United victories.

    Are you a Manchester United fan and struggling to find somewhere in Dubai to watch the big match against Arsenal today?

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    Or do you just want to be part of a fan group that’s really driven to creating a community where United fans across the second city can come together to support their beloved Reds?

    Then motor down to Al Ghandi Auto, Dubai, to watch what United fans still regard as one of the biggest games of the campaign.

    Al Ghandi is the UAE’s leading General Motors dealer for Chevrolet and GMC, but while automobiles are their main business drive, bringing people together at their Sheikh Zayed Road showroom for their United match-day experiences has also been a feature this season.

    Al Ghandi has already screened United wins against Liverpool and Manchester City, and marketing manager David Devine is targeting a hat-trick today as Louis van Gaal’s men welcome the Gunners to Old Trafford.

    “We’ve opened up the showroom to screen a few United home games this season, in a bid to try and recreate a similar type of atmosphere to Old Trafford, and they’ve proved very popular,” said Devine. 

    “The first game we screened was the 3-0 win over Liverpool (in December) and then the 4-2 win over City (in April) so far we’ve had two United wins and hopefully it will be three in a row today.” 

    Being a leading light in the UAE for Chevrolet, Al Ghandi spotted a niché in the sports market when the American firm became the shirt sponsors of United.

    With the Reds a well supported team in the Middle East, Al Ghandi decided to take a shot at bringing scores of fans together in one place.

    Crucial clash: Arsenal and Man United is still one of the biggest games on the EPL calendar.

    “Of course there’s an emphasis on brand awareness,” said Devine. 

    “Al Ghandi has taken the Chevrolet FC campaign on to showcase Manchester United in Dubai as the Arabian Gulf’s Chevrolet dealer.

    “It’s a very affluent market and United are a big brand here and have a big following, but we’re not just about selling cars.

    “It’s a community, social exercise. I think the main thing we want to get across is the Chevrolet in the community aspect.

    "Having the showroom events and the fact Chevrolet is the title sponsor of the Dubai Schools Cup shows the brand being integrated with football and Manchester United.”

    The popularity of the events has increased throughout the season, with 250 fans turning up for the Liverpool game.

    Numbers exceeded 300 for the cross-city clash with City and Devine believes even more will turn up for the Arsenal match.

    He added: “We have a broad spectrum of fans at the events, from adults to families.

    "We have a few different United fan groups at the games, including the Red Maniacs and an Indian supporters’ group, and we’re happy to house them all.”

    The game provides luxury viewing, with fans able to watch the match from the comfort of either red United beanbags, official United dugout seats or even Chevrolet Silverado pickup trucks that provide elevated seating.

    Apart from the obvious action on the pitch, there’s much more than that available at an Al Ghandi United screening, including a gaming area complete with a PS4 and the latest FIFA 15, fussball tables, food and drinks and gifts and prizes also on offer.

    What: Manchester United v Arsenal 
    Where: Al Ghandi Auto, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai
    When: Today, from 18:00
    Contact: email David Devine on [email protected] or phone 04 231 0837

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