IPL looks to Fan Parks to woo fans outside big cities

Cricket Fan Park is the new theme of the IPL as Season 8 gets underway from April 8. The idea is to look beyond the big cities and woo a whole new fan base from district towns and rural areas -a segment that doesn’t have proper access to IPL match venues. A proposal in this regard was put forward by former India middle-order batsman and Karnataka State Cricket Association secretary Brijesh Patel during the venue managers’ conclave in Mumbai on March 11. IPL’s event manager IMG is believed to be working on the project. The associations that will host the matches this term, have been asked to come up with their suggestions that would be placed before the IPL Governing Council (GC).

Cricket Association of Bengal joint-secretary and GC member Subir Ganguly explains: “With the advent of other franchise-based sporting events like ISL, we think it’s time for IPL to spread its wings and widen the net. Take our case; Eden Gardens hosts the Kolkata Knight Riders’ home matches here. But the venue is not easily accessible to those who live outside the metropolis. So if a Cricket Fan Park is set up at Kanchenjunga Stadium in Siliguri on match days, it will help the cricket lovers there to get almost a real-time experience,” he told The Indian Express.

“We aim to cover every district. Giant screens will be installed. Proposals are afoot to organise fun games and interactive sessions for the fans. For the price of a cheap ticket, anyone can go there and celebrate the T20 extravaganza. If things go to plan, the idea is likely to be implemented from this season onwards. Subject to a clearance from the BCCI working committee – to be held in Kolkata later this month – IPL Governing Council will provide funds to respective state associations,” Ganguly added.

Does IPL see its football equivalent, ISL, a threat to the tournament’s popularity? “Ganguly,was more forthright. “You can’t compare an Ambassador with an Audi. At the same time, the IPL organisers want to cover all areas in such a way that others don’t have a chance.”

According to a BCCI official, close to 20 million fans entered through the turnstiles for IPL-7. TV viewership also rose five per cent – from 175 million in 2013 to 184 million last year. BCCI want to strengthen those numbers further.

Source:: Indian Express