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By Vishal Bhargava
A cricket match being witnessed live in a
stadium is exciting and fun, so I was told.
Either the person who commented that hadn’t
witnessed a match in Mumbai’s Wankhede stadium
or he was lying. Considering the fact that he
was from Punjab, I’m inclined to believe that it
is the former that extracted that comment from
him. (For the record, Punjab is supposed to have
the best stadium in the country). Anyway, that
notion compelled me to grab a seat at the
Wankhede stadium featuring India and Australia
at three times the price of the ticket since the
tickets could only be purchased through touts.
So, I was eagerly on my way to the stadium,
which I had to reach half-an-hour prior the
commencement of the match or I would not be
allowed even with a valid ticket, due to the
instructions behind the ticket.
Clearly, the
view for watching the match was nice. (Unlike
the view from the West and East stands where one
can only see the stumpings and run-outs). As
expected the MCA oversold the tickets, which
meant there was a regular bickering for the
seats. And while Australia, started with their
regular flourish with Gilchirist at the top, the
jumping and excitement of the spectators had to
be restricted since it was too cramped to even
move. Also due to the fact that once you get up
from your seat for applauding, or celebrating a
standing spectator is waiting to grab your seat.
But then, that’s the price of watching a cricket
match in Mumbai. Damien Martyn steered Australia
to an imposing total of 285 that I thought was
too much for the Indians. On the concluding of
the Aussie innings, one would have thought that
spectators could go and have a good meal.
Obviously the MCA had other ideas. No leaving
the stadium during the break was one of the many
instructions that were printed behind the
ticket. (Also, no eatables, water, cellular
phones etc). After the match finished, with
India being thrashed by 77 runs, it got me
thinking. (Don’t worry, not about what ails
Indian cricket, I’ve given upon those
suggestions several years ago). Thinking about
if this is what the people who run the game (We,
the spectators) get from the administrators
(most corrupt politicians and incompetent
bureaucrats) then surely they couldn’t focus on
the finer points of the game like the pitches,
the outfields, players, infrastructure etc.
Here’s what I
think has happened. Clearly the administration
believe that since Cricket is a religion in the
country, irrespective of the status of
facilities the fans will turn up in huge
numbers. And they are correct. So why, waste
money on improving the facilities as in the
Balance Sheet that’ll just add to a “wasteful”
expenditure. Rather than spending it on that
they can clearly fill up their own coffers. In
other words, they treat the spectators like the
general public and not a customer as ought to
be. (Can’t blame them, most of them inept
politicians). In other countries, like
Australia, it is run by marketing professionals
who treat the spectator as a customer who must
be kept satisfied and holds the next most
importance only to the players. Which is why,
the seats are classy, comfortable and most
importantly organized. You can come in casual
clothes, with all your accessories and enjoy the
game. No restriction on the spectator at all. In
other words, it’s like a one-day picnic. And
that is exactly ought to be.
Irrespective of what Mr.Dilip Vengsarkar may
say, things haven’t changed too much for the
spectators. And I hope that a day comes, not too
far in the future that most cricket followers
stop going to the stadium and instead catch it
on the television with pop-corn and Coke (an
impossibility at Wankhede due to the crowded
stands and people ready to grab an empty seat)
at their ready disposal.
And that’s when the administrators will realize
their error in mistaking our tolerance for
ignorance.
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