Cricket crazy fans waiting to purchase tickets for matches when the Hero Caribbean Premier League returns to Guyana
It was a mad rush for last minute tickets leading up to the first three Guyana Amazon Warriors home matches in this year’s edition of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) with long lines at the central ticketing office in Georgetown even on match days.
On Monday when the sale of tickets for the second phase of Guyana Amazon Warriors matches began it was no different as the ‘early birds’ flocked the Camp and Quamina Streets office for their share of tickets for the September 8 and 9 clashes at Providence.
On a cool Monday morning in Georgetown, there were approximately 25 persons waiting at the central ticketing office for the scheduled 09:00h opening. At the front of the line was Tenesha Chappelle, who was also the first to the counter when ticket sales began on July 19 for the August matches.
Tenesha Chappelle with tickets to both matches in September
The Newtown Georgetown resident was with her grandmother and she just wanted her favourite seats again. “My family and I like the view and the action from the green stand so I am here to secure our seats early,” she told Guyana Times Sport with excitement and relief in her voice. Chappelle said that her family from overseas will be coming in their numbers and were encouraging her to purchase their tickets early. “It’s about 20 of us including those from the United States who come every year for CPL. We were there last night and for the two earlier matches and we are going again in September,” granny Serojanie said.
Also getting his tickets was Anand who came from Mahaica. “I don’t want to join the line like last week so I come early. I am safe now. I am all set,” Anand said as he checked his six tickets while exiting.
This year is the first time in the six-year history of the tournament that Guyana will host five home matches for the Amazon Warriors and also the first time that the matches are separated into two phases. After hosting the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, St Lucia Stars and the Barbados Tridents, the Amazon Warriors are heading on the road for five away matches before returning to wrap up against the Jamaica Tallawahs and Trinbago Knight Riders respectively.
Ticket sales for the first phase or the August matches began on July 19, three weeks before the first match at Providence, and anxious patrons flocked the office early. However, there were others who waited until the very last moment to get into the ‘Biggest Party in Sport’ and by then the lines grew.
In the first three home matches, the powerful Amazon Warriors won two games and lost one in front of sold out crowds and the same is anticipated when they return home in three weeks.
