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India vs Windies @ Kotla - first hand experience

akshayxyz

By akshayxyz
in Cricket Talk

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akshayxyz Newbie

akshayxyz

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Written by a friend - pretty much explains the empty stands. http://www.kingcricket.co.uk/india-v-west-indies-match-report/2011/11/08/

Ritesh writes: I solved a mystery yesterday. In a Test that could well see Sachin Tendulkar hit his 100th international century, only 8,000 people turned up on a Sunday to a ground that holds 50,000. Of course such turnouts are not uncommon at marginal grounds where the BCCI insists on hosting Test matches, but this was the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi, where cricket has been played since 1883 and which staged its first test in 1948. Yet, what we saw yesterday was this: Sunday began as a glorious day in Delhi, with no sign of the infamous Delhi smog and the first hint of winter in the air. While reading the previews of the Test over morning coffee, my wife and I agreed that it was a perfect day to watch some cricket. The plan was to get comfortable seats in a stand that serves good food and drink, so we could read the newspaper and chat, with occasional cricket interruptions. Hopefully nothing too exciting would happen in the game to affect our plan. So we set off early for the 90 minute drive to the stadium. There were more policemen than spectators outside the stadium, and we played a little game of pointing out the paunchiest among them (we found at least a dozen officers of Gatting-esque proportions). When we politely asked where we could park, we were asked if we have ÅÑarking accreditation? Since we were unfamiliar with the term, we were pointed to a location approximately 5km away, where a ÅÑark and ride service was available. 20 minutes and much Google-Maps-fiddling later, we were parked and ready to ride. The organisers unfortunately were unclear about the ÅÓide part of the arrangement we were expected to find our own rides back to the stadium, a fact that was complicated by the traffic restrictions around the parking area. But the day was still good for walking and sharing rickshaws with strangers and we had missed only an hour of play when we reached the stadium (again). On reaching the ticket window, we were informed that the ticket window was closed because it was Sunday. Just reflect on that. It is the first day of the only Test match you will host this year. The ground is not even one-fifth full. Yet you donÃÕ sell tickets because it is Sunday. The policemen (who were genuinely polite and helpful for a change) told us that tickets were also available at major banks and at least one of those banks worked on Sundays. They even gave us directions to the nearest branch, about 3km away. Of course the traffic restrictions were still in place, so again we walked. There was one person selling tickets there and at least 200 people in line. Still, we had come so far so we decided to wait. At the counter they told us we could buy day-tickets for the concrete bleachers (exposed to the sun and approximately at square leg), but for any other stand they were selling only 5-day tickets. It was as if the DDCA (Delhi and Districts Cricket Association) deliberately wanted to keep the turnout low. We only wanted to watch the game on Sunday, but after much deliberation decided to buy tickets for all the five days because, well, we had come too far to back out now. So triumphantly we walked to the stadium for the third time since the morning. By this time the game was midway through the second session. We were hungry and dehydrated and the missus was growing irritated, but hey we at least had tickets. Unseen treats awaited us on the other side of the security barrier. Then the metal detector beeped. Our new tablet computer was the problem. According to the fine print behind the ticket, you are allowed to take phones and digital cameras to the ground, but there was no mention of tablets. I gave a full technology demo of my tablet, sent a text message from it (to prove it was a phone) and took a picture (to prove it was a camera). But it fell somewhere in the twilight zone of technology products and the final decision was no. We had a choice we could go back to our car (which was parked 5km away), keep the tablet there, walk back and catch maybe 90 minutes of play. Or we could cut our losses and run. We ran. We had spent half a day and several thousand rupees already, and not even the enticing prospect of watching part of Umesh YadavÃÔ Test debut could bring us back to the stadium. I guess we were insufficiently committed to Test cricket. With fans like these, no wonder Test cricket is dying in the subcontinent.
akshayxyz Newbie

akshayxyz

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On the other hand, English made good use of SRT nearing the milestone - by hyping it up.. that must have helped attract good% of crowd, more than what would have w/o marketing.

saneindian Enthusiast

saneindian

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was there yesterday. Precisely because of the parking issues and non availabiltyof tickets at the stadium, did not go today even though wanted to. Only ticket available at the bank was for 100 rs wala stands and touts were seliing it for 400-500 rs. Bought 2 tickets for 700 and then walked almost a kilometer back to the stadium. Reached the stands and even though there are bucket seats everywhere, they were full of bird droppings and dusty. Looks lke those seats get cleaned only before the IPL. Would not talk much about the toilets orthe food o offer..

nballa Newbie

nballa

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that is exactly the same shyt that happened in hyd. police everywhere telling us tickets will not be sold in the stadium and we had to buy online or at a bank?? and the stadium was empty. i wonder what kind of logistical challenges they will encounter if they sell tickets in the stadium. ultimately had to buy in 'black' from the cops themselves. this country is going 10 steps backwards for every one step ahead.

deathmonger Grand Master

deathmonger

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that is exactly the same shyt that happened in hyd. police everywhere telling us tickets will not be sold in the stadium and we had to buy online or at a bank?? and the stadium was empty. i wonder what kind of logistical challenges they will encounter if they sell tickets in the stadium. ultimately had to buy in 'black' from the cops themselves. this country is going 10 steps backwards for every one step ahead.
what's the use of buying tickets for a match that isn't happening? or do you guys now screen uae matches inside the stadiums? :cantstop:
Sachin=GOD Newbie

Sachin=GOD

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that is exactly the same shyt that happened in hyd. police everywhere telling us tickets will not be sold in the stadium and we had to buy online or at a bank?? and the stadium was empty. i wonder what kind of logistical challenges they will encounter if they sell tickets in the stadium. ultimately had to buy in 'black' from the cops themselves. this country is going 10 steps backwards for every one step ahead.
Hyderbad, India or Hyderbad, Pakistan :winky:
nballa Newbie

nballa

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what's the use of buying tickets for a match that isn't happening? or do you guys now screen uae matches inside the stadiums? :cantstop:
what do you mean by a match which isn't happening? it was CL T20. why would i screen uae matches inside uppal stadium hyderabad? you don't make sense. give me a reason why i should not be ignoring you going forward or you're history pal.
deathmonger Grand Master

deathmonger

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what do you mean by a match which isn't happening? it was CL T20. why would i screen uae matches inside uppal stadium hyderabad? you don't make sense. give me a reason why i should not be ignoring you going forward or you're history pal.
In your daydreams maybe. Pak domestic teams will never play in CLt20. they can organise hallal league with domestic teams from uae, singapore etc. wait, they may lose that too.
Stuge Proficient

Stuge

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between Digital camera's aren't allowed either .only mobiles are allowed :|. On the first day, I had to pressurize policewala to allow me take nasal spray with me .

rajmarie Newbie

rajmarie

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Its clear. BCCI wants to kill Test cricket in India. Look at the above experience by a fan. Completly un-acceptable. Plus see how BCCI schedule home Test matches. eg this series. 1 Test...from Sunday - Thu. Why cant these idiots understand...that unlike themselves...fans have to work. & its not possible to take so many holidays to watch cricket. 2nd Test...From Monday to Friday. Again WTF. please someone order drug abuse testing on BCCI management. Come IPL time...all these people suddenly becomes smart & realise...that holding night IPL games rather then 10AM IPL T20 games will guarantee a bigger turnout. Plus...holding 2 IPL games on weekends is better because its a holiday & more people can watch. Good job BCCI in killing Test cricket in India. I just pray...that once this TV deal expires....all the TV companies say to BCCI that they will not pay more the 10 mill a year for your TV rights. That should be enough for some of these BCCI lazy bastards to go somewhere else to eat "haram ki kamai"..& maybe cricket specially Test cricket can be once again fun to watch

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