DUBAI // In a bid to give a greater number of fans an opportunity to watch the Arabian Gulf League Super Cup match between Al Ain and Al Nasr, the Pro League Committee have decided to change the venue from the Baniyas Stadium on the outskirts of the capital to the cavernous Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi city.
The traditional season-opener between the Arabian Gulf League champions and the Arabian Gulf Cup winners, the Super Cup was scheduled to be held at the Baniyas Stadium on August 15, but there were reports of discontent among the fans at the number of seats available to the venue.
According to the Arabian Gulf League website, Baniyas’s home ground holds 9,047, but seat allocation for fans would have been no more than 7,000 seats for the Super Cup, which means only 3,500 tickets available for each club.
That decision earned the ire of supporters of both clubs, who took to social media to express theiranger. Taking their sentiments on board, the PLC have now decided to move the match to the 42,000-seater Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium, home of Al Jazira.
“The PLC took the decision to transfer the match to the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium to give an opportunity to the largest number of fans to attend the inaugural match of the season,” the PLC said in a statement Sunday.
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