India is a cricketing nation. Nothing except a war with Pakistan creates as much buzz as a cricket match in which India plays. When India plays the stadiums are packed, the crowd elated, the noise levels scintillating. It itself is an amazing experience.
During the last India-England series, myself and some of my friends had the opportunity to watch India play England in Kochi during the month of April. India won the game quite convincingly and it was a good experience…..mmmm was it? The only good point during the whole day was the fact that India won and we some of our players played well but alas there ends my experience. Would I go to watch another live game again…well…I will think a lot before deciding on the same.
Why…great experience, great crowds…but why will you think about going to the stadium and watch the game if you have the opportunity…just because watching the game in an Indian cricket stadium sucks. It sucks and it sucks. There is no comfort for the cricket fan in the absolutely sweltering heat of the stadium…no fans to blow some air, no place where you can get some good quality drinks, no proper sanitation, and no crowd control…Absolute chaos. Well you can argue that is how India is…But how long can we hold this argument. When do we throw this argument to the gutter and change ourselves. When we will make watch the game in the stadium an experience to cherish, a thrill to behold…. There is absolutely no consideration offered for an average cricket fan. It has been taken for granted that an average fan will come and watch the game whatever the situation be and that in all fairness is true.
There has been some noise made on the low rate of attendance in cricket games during the on going Champions trophy in India. Well the reason is there for everyone to see. But now one will acknowledge it. Our cricket board is more interested in bidding for the cricketing rights. Bah…..
Indian cricket board is the richest in the world. Why can’t it think of spending some of that in the basic things and create an experience like the English Premiership. People go and watch the game just because it is convenience and an experience to cherish. Make our stadiums superb, make it an experience and then see the difference that it brings….
5 comments:
I echo ur feelings. Pathetic state of stadiums .. I was extremetly unhappy with the way the matches were conducted this time.. Bad pitches.. B grade venues..
It was as if they wanted to Boycott the ICC champions trophy..
I do accept to some extent, but I will not accept that all stadium suck. That is a reflection of your personal feeling. I had gone to Chepauk stadium in Madras, it was hot, no fans!, not much of bottled drinks.....but the experience was so nice and I do not have a bad feeling about the condition of the ground. The pitch was great, grass was in green (in Chennai)and the crowd was absolutely well behaved.
Also, cricket has to reach to many venues (some may consider them as B grade) and over a period of time it has to be studied and improved.
Well, well.........
@anonymous >> I don't mind cricket being played in not so well known venues...infact I am all for it...all places should get its chance. but at the same time, efforts should be taken that the fans get a good time in watching the game...some good conditions will do wonders and the unfortunate thing is efforts are not taken to cater to those...
Balaji, you are right. Efforts need to be taken, but do you think that efforts would not have been taken when some place is selected for a match? It is being taken, but looks like it lacks something or some assumptions made which have to be identified and removed. It will improve.... (and apologies for remaining anonymous)
@anonymous >> That is what gets to my nerves. It is not that we have just started hosting cricket events. We have been doing that for a long long time. But I really don't see any improvement. The cricket watching public is always made a scapegoat. They have to suffer throughout the whole game because of lack of effort. The officials can't give this argument anymore. We have been hosting for a long time now and the fact is other natioins provide better facilities than us. If we claim ourselves to be rich and great place to watch cricket, we have to make efforts/steps to ensure that this improves. Can't affort to make any more assumptions on customer satisfaction and fan comfort.
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