CASTRIES, St Lucia (CMC) – World Twenty20 Championship organisers have reported a strong global response to ticket sales for the event.
With just 50 days left to the start of the event next month, organisers have revealed that only ten per cent of public tickets now remain available for the big final scheduled for Kensington Oval in Barbados.
Sales have also gone well for the curtain-raising match in Guyana and only 15 per cent of tickets are now left to be sold.
Tournament director Robert Bryan said fans worldwide had “woken up to the fact that this event is happening”.
“Overall, ticket sales are up to 60 per cent and increasing daily. It’s amazing the number of queries and calls about tickets that we are receiving now,” Bryan said.
“Fans are suddenly energised and excited about the ICC WT20 tournament coming to the West Indies and they definitely want to be part of it.”
He added: “Ticket prices are also very affordable – ranging from as low as US$5 for a Group Stage match to a modest high of US$40 for a seat at the finals – and people are realising this is going to be great entertainment value for their money; especially getting two matches every day.”
The tournament is set to bowl off on April 30 and conclude with the grand final on May 16, and will involve 12 teams spread across four groups.
It will be the first time the World Cup for the game’s newest format will be hosted in the Caribbean, and three countries – Barbados, Guyana and St Lucia – will serve as principal hosts for the men’s tournament.
The women’s tournament, which will run concurrently, will be played exclusively in St Kitts.
Bryan said work was currently ongoing on the respective outfield and pitches at the various venues and said their readiness would be tested soon.
“It’s just a case of following through with the respective plans for each ground and everything should fall into place,” Bryan said.
“These preparations have, in some instances, meant limited use of some facilities while certain others have been locked down. Within the next six weeks, matches will be played on various grounds to test their level of readiness.”