IPL's pouring charge on liquor sale infuriates administrators

JOHANNESBURG, May 3 (UNI): Notwithstanding the financial well-being of the Indian Premier League (IPL), the organisers of the Twenty20 tournament have imposed a pouring charge on the sale of alcohol here at the Wanderers, much to the displeasure of the local cricket administrators and alcohol suppliers.

"For the sum of 40 000 dollars, a mere 0.001 per cent of the IPL's declared turnover of 2.4 billion dollars, the company who has the tender to sell alcohol at the Wanderers - Events Management - will be allowed to provide thirsty spectators with their tipple," reported SuperCricket.

"But what should be an utterly meaningless amount for the IPL is going to put the financial well-being of a long-standing service provider to cricket in Johannesburg at risk - R336 800," the website added.

The Gauteng Cricket Board and the suite-holders at the Wanderers were earlier involved in a nasty tussle with the IPL, who had demanded all suites be handed over to them for their use.

"Some senior Gauteng Cricket Board executives decided to stay away from the Wanderers in protest, after the IPL, with the tacit approval of Cricket South Africa, threatened to ban the sale of all alcohol at the stadium unless the pouring fee was paid," it stated.

The report further added that in order to just break even, the liquor suppliers will need to sell 56,134 beers in the eight matches to be staged there.

So that means over 7,000 drinks per game.

It was also noticeable in the last night match between Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Daredevils that only about a quarter of the suites at the ground had people in them, while there were many empty seats in the Unity Stand.