Cup fever hits Gladiators
Source -
epost.co.uk
Gloucestershire are experiencing at first hand the phenomenon of Twenty20 Cup cricket fever.
Phone lines at the County Ground have been jammed for the past 48 hours by callers eager to witness this month's quarter-final tie in Bristol.
Public interest gathered momentum immediately after Gloucestershire confirmed their place in the last eight by beating Glamorgan under floodlights in Cardiff on Monday.
And such has been the demand for tickets, the club began selling them before the identity of their quarter-final opponents was even known.
Gloucestershire will face Surrey in the last eight at the County Ground on Monday, July 24 (5.30pm) and chief executive Tom Richardson anticipates a crowd in excess of 5,000.
He confirmed: "People have been on the phone and there is already a great deal of interest.
"This competition really does seem to have caught the imagination of the public and a home draw is a tremendous boost for our members, sponsors and all the kids who came to watch our earlier games.
"Hopefully, they will all be back on July 24 to see us play again. Judging by the response so far, I reckon we could be looking at a crowd of more than 5,000."
Tickets have been on sale since yesterday morning and Richardson explained: "It would have been silly not to have reacted to demand straight away.
"We didn't know who we were playing, but we decided to go ahead and sell anyway."
Playing at home will entitle the county to 75 per cent of the gate receipts and Richardson acknowledged: "Twenty20 is very, very important to us financially.
"This competition alone equates to at least a third of all gate receipts over the course of the season, so landing a home quarter-final is a massive boost.
"It is also a bonus to our supporters, who might not be so inclined to travel for one of these games as they would a C &G Trophy or 40-over match."
More than 5,000 watched last night's final group game against Northants, which ended in defeat by eight wickets.
The match proved a bittersweet affair for all-rounder Mark Hardinges, who struck 94 not out to claim the man-of-the-match award.
He said: "Of course it's disappointing to lose in front of our home crowd, but at least we have won the group and have a home quarter-final to look forward to.
"I'm sure we'll put up a better show in that game."
Responding to the draw, vice-captain Alex Gidman said: "It suits us down to the ground.
"We have a good record against Surrey in one-day cricket and they don't like coming to Bristol."
Tickets for the Twenty20 Cup quarter-final are on sale now. Advance prices are £14 for adults, £7 for under-16s, £11 for adult members and £5 for Junior Gladiator members.
Tickets can also be bought on the gate, subject to availability, priced £18 for adults and £9 for under-16s.
To buy advance tickets, call 0117 9108000/9108010, visit the ticket office at the County Ground, Nevil Road, or visit www.glosccc.co.uk.
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