IPL 2018: 36 cities to hold Bigger and Better Fan Parks

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is planning to make IPL’s iconic ‘Fan Park’ concept much bigger and better to reach out to more cricket lovers across the country, a senior official said on Friday.

Started in 2015, the IPL Fan Parks are built in selected open arenas and stadiums in the country to provide match-day experience to the residents of the cities which do not host IPL games.

With giant screens, special arrangements for women and children – the fans can attend the special screenings of IPL matches over the weekends free of cost.

The BCCI has shortlisted 36 cities across 19 states for the fourth edition of ‘Fan Parks,’ said Anant Datar, representative of BCCI in Fan Parks.

"In Gujarat, Rajkot, Surat and Nadiad are three cities selected to have IPL Fan Parks," he informed.

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"BCCI's main objective is to reach out to fans and cover maximum regions. We have selected only those cities which are not hosting IPL matches, so that people of these cities can experience stadium-like excitement," Datar said.

He added that the concept has garnered ‘overwhelming’ response from the public and that is why 36 cities had been chosen to experience IPL Fan Parks this year.

"The number may go up even further next year," Datar said.

The 11th edition of the Indian Premier League will begin from Saturday, March 7.