….Heineken Champions League viewing party moves to Marriott beachfront
The Independence weekend in Guyana will be filled with great festivities; and on Saturday, May 25, the attention will turn to the final of the UEFA Champions League final between powerhouses and defending champions Real Madrid and Liverpool.
While the blockbuster match takes place in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, from 14:45h, the Marriot Beach at the Kingston seawall will be transformed into a festival for the 6th Heineken/UEFA Champions League Viewing Party.
This was disclosed to Guyana Times Sport by Heineken Brand Manager Darshanie Yussuf on Saturday. According to Yussuf, the move to the beachfront comes as the ANSA McAL group looks to be innovative in treating its large fan base. 
“Our Heineken consumers have very high expectations of us, so every year we ensure that we exceed their expectations. Hence we decided, ‘Why not go outside of the box?’ and Marriott beachfront seemed like the ideal location”, Yussuf explained.
She added, “Needless to say, we have outgrown any indoor venue; hence us looking outside the box”.
It is no secret that Champions League Football is a growing phenomenon in Guyana, with a vastly growing fan base, which has been a heartening factor for Yussuf’s consideration.
“Five years ago, when we started the campaign promoting the Heineken UEFA Champions League, there was just a handful of people — enthusiasts really — who were interested. I am happy to say that this, our 6th year, has seen a following where persons have been requesting tickets (invitation only) since 6 months ago,” a proud Yussuf disclosed.
Outlining the continuous growth of the party, which moved from Georgetown Cricket Club stands to Gravity Longue, to 704 Sports Bar, and then the Giftland Mall Entertainment Strip, Yussuf explained that it is not about attracting a large audience this year, but about ensuring that those who come to the party enjoy the experience to the fullest.
“We had over 3500 persons at Giftland in 2017. This year we would like to go a little smaller, as we want to ensure that everyone who attends enjoys the Heineken experience,” she disclosed. Yussuf further revealed that while the mood of the city will be filled with Soca because of the presence of many top Caribbean artistes, organisers of “the party” have decided to add a different flavour and bring Jamaica’s reggae sensation, Tanya Stevens, to perform at the after-party.
Tickets to this spectacular event are only given at promotions at supermarkets and bars. Those locations include Palm Court, Giftland Entertainment Strip, Pizza Hut (Sheriff Street), Barbacoa, Seepaul’s Bar and Seeta’s Bar, along with all Bounty, DSL and Real Value supermarkets. (Akeem Greene)
