DUBAI // Al Ahli hope their initiative to reward two supporters with a new luxury car after every Arabian Gulf League home match this season will significantly increase attendances.
The Dubai club announced an agreement with Gargash Enterprises on Thursday, in which two Mercedes Benz cars will be raffled at the conclusion of each of their 12 remaining 2015/16 league fixtures at the Rashid Stadium.
Other clubs have introduced standalone campaigns in the past, with Al Jazira raffling a Ferrari at half time during their final league match in 2011, as part of a season-long strategy to increases attendances. In 2013, the Abu Dhabi club repeated the give-away, while also handing out a Dh1 million cash prize.
Putting fans in the stands has long represented a major issue for Arabian Gulf League clubs. Last season, the league’s average attendance was 2,529, with Ahli, then the competition’s defending champions, averaging 2,947 per match.
Ahli said the Mercedes Benz initiative is designed to give something back to their supporters and at the same time encourage new fans to come watch the six-time UAE champions.
“Attendance is always a headache for us and all the clubs, for different factors: sometimes the time, the weather, or the date itself,” said Ahmed Khalifa, Ahli’s chief executive. “So this campaign is firstly to reward our loyal fans who come to home or away matches in the daytime, the humidity and the high temperatures. And, secondly, to attract more fans to Rashid Stadium.
“As clubs, we all have to put in an effort to grow and to push the attendance in the stadiums. We are taking our responsibility as Al Ahli club and we wish other clubs will do the same and come with creative ideas to attract fans.”
Khalifa said Ahli will continue to roll out other initiatives to attract fans, while the club, currently one of the most prominent in the country, wants to be more accessible to Dubai’s substantial expatriate base.
“We are targeting other nationalities,” Khalifa said. “We believe football is a very international language and we have many nationalities who live here and love football. Maybe in the past we couldn’t approach them - they didn’t have enough information about our league, our teams, our stadiums, etc.
“So our mission in the future is approaching these nationalities and trying to attract them to the stadiums. We know Dubai is a multinational city. As a brand, Ahli is very well-known in Europe because of signing big names in players and coaches. This will make our mission easier.”
Supporters will be eligible for the Mercedes Benz raffle only once they apply for a club membership card, with the new campaign to be activated for Ahli’s next league match, against Al Dhafra on September 20. A Mercedes C 200 and ML 400 will be given away.
HOW TO WIN:
Register at Rashid Stadium for a club membership. There are four season-long packages, ranging from Dh9,000 (VVIP) to Dh500. Each includes a club jersey.
On matchday, scan membership card at electronic gate located at stadium, no later than 10 minutes after kick-off.
Watch the match and wait until the final whistle – the draw will be made immediately after. Only those who stay until the end of the game will qualify for the raffle.
jmcauley@thenational.ae
