After much deliberation with Minister of State Joe Harmon, the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has confirmed that Guyana will host two playoff matches in the 2018 edition.
The historic announcement was made on Wednesday by CPL’s Chief Operating Officer (COO) Pete Russell.
Disclosing that destinations like Trinidad and Tobago and the USA had expressed interests in hosting the playoffs, Russell noted that the decision to bring the two matches to Guyana was a fairly easy one.
“For us, this was really the only place we wanted to bring it because of the fan base and Guyana has been so successful. Not actually winning the tournament yet but actually getting through to the playoff rounds in the past five years so for us it was a no brainer,” he said.
Russell also emphasised on the massive crowd support as one of the reasons for the playoffs coming to the Providence National Stadium.
“We’re obviously delighted because of the fan base we already have in Guyana. We think its due reward for the support that the fans have shown us over the past five years. So we’re very excited about the games, we obviously think they’re going to be sellout matches.”
The two playoff matches which will be held on September 11 and 12, will see the top two teams and the third and fourth place battling it out at the Providence Stadium. In an effort to maintain the enormous crowd support, Russell has hinted that ticket prices will remain affordable.
“In terms of ticket prices, we’re going to make it very attractive for fans to turn up. What you’re not going to see is Trinidad prices. Our intention is to peg the prices at the same level of the home games that will be played. “
The addition of the two playoff games means that Guyana will host seven matches in this year’s CPL season, the highest number of matches that has ever been hosted by Guyana since the tournament began in 2013.
Guyana will kick off their CPL 2018 campaign against the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots on August 9 at the National Stadium, Providence.
