The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has announced its decision to auction off the two seats at the Wankhede Stadium where MS Dhoni famously hit the winning six in the final of the 2011 World Cup. These iconic seats, known as the ‘2011 World Cup memorial seats,’ hold immense sentimental value for Indian cricket fans.
The MCA has listed the auction under a section titled ‘Request for proposal for buyout of Hospitality Package for ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 matches at Wankhede Stadium’ on its website. The notice states that the “Cricket World Cup 2011 Victory Memorial Stand (2 seats) to be auctioned.”
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The auction of these seats is expected to generate substantial revenue for the MCA, given the emotional attachment that Indian cricket fans have to the historic moment when Dhoni hit a six to secure India’s victory on April 2, 2011. In April, reports had emerged that the MCA planned to create a memorial at the exact spot in the stand where the ball landed after Dhoni’s iconic shot against Sri Lankan pacer Nuwan Kulasekara.
MCA set to name the two seats at Wankhede where the winning six landed in the World Cup final as “MS Dhoni seats”. [TOI] pic.twitter.com/tuHcQnJNy8
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) September 14, 2023
However, MCA President Amol Kale clarified that there would be no memorial but instead announced that the seats would be “specially designed and named after MS Dhoni.” These unique seats, referred to as the ‘MS Dhoni seats,’ will be permanently named in honor of the legendary cricketer and will be artistically decorated and specially designed for fans.
MCA will offer premium amenities akin to a sofa or comforter and will include hospitality services. These exclusive seats will be sold at a premium price to fans who want to experience cricket matches in style.
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In addition to the ‘MS Dhoni seats,’ the MCA is also offering other premium seating options for the 2023 World Cup matches at the Wankhede Stadium. This includes selling 300 seats in the Level 2 of the Sachin Tendulkar Stand for Rs 3 crores and 140 seats in the seven boxes for Rs 2.66 crores for the five matches scheduled to be held at the iconic venue.
