(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Vendors across the UAE's F & B industry are making the most of the FIFA World Cup fever that has swept across the country by launching special viewing zones, which they hope will attract a record number of visitors during the matches.
Many restaurants have launched special promotions for visitors and fans interested in watching the matches together, and several have even turned portions of their venues into dedicated fan zones, where visitors can watch all the action live on large projector screens. To celebrate the occassion, many restaurants have also announced the launch of special menus for the duration of the event.
Perry & Blackwelder's in Souk Madinat Jumeirah has announced a month-long showcase with a menu of comfort food and host of F & B deals. All the action will be shown live on 10 screens throughout the venue with the major matches being featured on a big screen. Similarly, Lock, Stock & Barrel, has transformed areas of both its JBR and Barsha Heights venues into 24/7 fan zones.
"The World Cup brings the world together, creating a sense of unity in one of the most multicultural regions," Paul Evans, managing director and founder of Solutions Leisure, told Khaleej Times. "Lock, Stock & Barrel was built to offer something for everyone. With a great team, plenty of screens, a dedicated fan zone with food and drink deals, and one giant central big screen in both venues, we offer an unparalleled atmosphere, making for the ultimate spot to catch all the football action, live."
He added: "The World Cup gives us the chance to show Dubai just what Lock, Stock & Barrel is all about, building great relationships with our guests and ensuring that, no matter what the outcome is at the end of the match, we are all made to feel like winners with top service, quality food and drinks."
"FIVE Palm Jumeirah has created the ultimate VIP viewing experience for this year's World Cup," said Aloki Batra, CEO of FIVE Hospitality. "We've got it all; from exclusive seating in our custom made air-conditioned tent with multiple screens for every live match, accompanied by DJs and percussionists for live entertainment and incredible prizes. Our guests can even enjoy the screening of the matches from our glass-lined pools. There won't be anywhere else as exciting to watch the tournament this summer."
According to official figures from FIFA, more than one billion fans tuned in to watch the final of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, with the competition reaching a global in-home television audience of 3.2 billion people. Furthermore, an estimated 280 million people around the world watched the matches online or on a mobile device, in a sign that more and more fans are embracing new technology for sports content.
F & B outlets across the UAE are well aware of these numbers and long planned to attract football fans to their venues with special deals that catered to their enthusiasm. The Harvesters Amstel fan zone, which is showing the action on eight screens and a giant projector, started planning early and accordingly for the event.
"Sports in general are a community event and pubs have always been a natural home for sports enthusiasts to meet with friends, relax with a drink or meal and share the highs and lows of the game. Experience from previous tournaments has shown that customer traffic almost doubles or sometimes even triples during key sporting events. The team at Harvesters have worked hard and planned ahead to ensure our customers get the best deals, a fun environment coupled with a great viewing experience to make Harvesters a venue of choice for any future sports tournaments," said Mrad El Khoury, GM of Crowne Plaza Sheikh Zayed Road Dubai.
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Rohma Sadaqat I am a reporter and sub-editor on the Business desk at Khaleej Times. I mainly cover and write articles on the UAE's retail, hospitality, travel, and tourism sectors.Originally from Lahore, I have been living in the UAE for more than 20 years. I graduated with a BA in Mass Communication, with a concentration in Journalism, and a double minor in History and International Studies from the American University of Sharjah.If you see me out and about on assignment in Dubai, feel free to stop me, say hello, and we can chat about the latest kitten videos on YouTube.
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