The stage is prepared for the subsequent iteration of India Premier League encounters at Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, the domicile of Lucknow Super Giants.
Similar to the preceding year, once again the city of nawabs is poised to accommodate seven matches, featuring all IPL squads except Royal Challengers Bangalore, against the indigenous squad helmed by captain KL Rahul.
Admirer precedence!
In order to augment the attendance in the 50,000-capacity arena, the indigenous franchise is exerting full effort to assemble the azure legion in support of LSG. “Under the banner of ‘admirer precedence,’ we have introduced domiciliary dispatch of tickets this time around to obviate eleventh-hour turmoil and inconvenience for the spectators. For procuring offline seats, ticket booths have been established outside Phoenix Palacio Mall and Tilsim Store (Hazratganj), where tickets are vended from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm daily,” conveys an official.
“After extensive groundwork, we eagerly anticipate welcoming our admirers to the stadium for an indelible cricketing rendezvous,” articulates LSG’s chief executive officer Colonel Vinod Bisht.
Training regimen
In an effort to foster a deeper connection with the local populace, LSG extended invitations during the training matches this time. A handful of arenas were unlocked for the denizens of Lucknow, resulting in a commendable turnout.
“The franchise must cultivate a stronger bond with the locals not solely during matches but throughout the year. They ought to engage them such that they perceive it as their own team. Last year witnessed azure dominance during the Mumbai match, yellow prevalence during the Chennai match, and Kohli fervor during the Bangalore match. One hopes they glean from their past lapses,” remarks Abhijit Sarkar, former CEO of the erstwhile franchise Pune Warriors India.
All for enthusiasts
A magnificent ‘larger-than-life’ headgear installation at the Cricket is evolving into a popular selfie spot for LSG enthusiasts. The colossal cerulean cricket headgear stands at 27 feet tall and is prominently situated at the primary entrance of the stadium, serving as a visual delight for cricket aficionados.
A devotee of LSG and a bachelor’s scholar at Lucknow University Vivaan Singh remarks, “The stadium is extravagantly adorned, and we enthusiasts are primed for the inaugural match. I shall be spectating the match alongside my coterie of friends, and we are keen on capturing a selfie in proximity to the headgear installation.”
For commuters
Yet another supplementary amenity and substantial solace provided for denizens of Lucknow will be the provision of bus transport from the stadium to the Metro Station, which will remain operational until 12:30 am. Additionally, on match days, buses will be accessible from Transport Nagar to Kamta Marg.
Sushil Kumar, managing director of UP Metro Rail Corporation Limited, divulges, “This marks the second season with LSG, and we are exceedingly elated. We aspire to furnish optimal services to all and propel the corporation forward in the realm of public transportation.”