NZ vs ENG, CWC 2023: The CWC 2023 started with a tint of controversy after the opening game between New Zealand and reigning champions England. The reason for empty seats goes back to last month when fans accused online ticket-booking platform BookMyShow of scamming them. Some of the allegations have been worsened by the fact that tournament tickets have almost immediately sold out, yet vast parts of stadiums have been empty during the opening match.
One fan claimed to have discovered BookMyShow’s ticket sales algorithm. He said that the company was displaying tickets as “sold out” when they were still available in order to raise prices.
“BookMyShow is using a dirty algorithm to fool people,” he tweeted. “They are showing tickets as sold out even though they are still available. This is creating a false sense of urgency and driving up prices.”
The tweet was posted on August 22, 2023, and has since been taken down. However, screenshots of the message are circulating online.
The tweet quickly went viral, sparking a public backlash against BookMyShow. Many supporters promoted a boycott of the company when it was accused of being involved in fraudulent tactics.
Other fans who shared their own experiences trying to buy tickets on BookMyShow backed up the claims that were made. Many said they were waiting in line for hours only to be told that all tickets had sold out by the time they reached the front of the line.
“I was in the queue for over two hours and by the time I got to the front, all the tickets were gone,” said one fan. “It’s very frustrating to know that I was probably close to getting tickets, but BookMyShow’s algorithm prevented me from doing so.”
The governing body of cricket in India, the BCCI, has also come under investigation for its role in the ticket scam.
The BCCI went on to defend its handling of ticket sales, stating that it was transparent and fair. However, The BCCI has recognized that there were some technical issues with the BookMyShow website that may have made it difficult for some fans to purchase tickets.
The BCCI also made clear that it is looking into BookMyShow’s suspicions of a scam. Yet, the investigation’s findings have still to be made public.
Last-Minute Ticket Release Delay and Sudden Changes Frustrate Fans
The tournament’s scheduling and ticketing systems have been questioned by fans. The initial batch of tickets went on sale on August 25, less than six weeks before the first match, making travel arrangements problematic.
Indian cricket fans who had waited for years to see the sport’s biggest event in their own backyard had given up on their hopes of cheering on their team at home.
Low attendance at the world’s largest Cricket stadium during NZ vs ENG match
Images on television screens showed a low crowd in the world’s largest stadium, the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, which has a capacity of more than 132,000 seats. The first match of the competition drew only 47,518 spectators, surprising both viewers and organizers.
While 47,518 supporters are a fair amount for many venues in India, the Narendra Modi Stadium appeared to have more empty seats due to its size. Many fans took to social media to express and even mock the BCCI for such a haphazard arrangement and low attendance. It is to be noted that the number of spectators that attended the opening NZ vs ENG game, would jampack other stadiums in India that have relatively lesser seating capacity. For example, the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai has a seating capacity of 33,000+ spectators. While Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium has a capacity of around 42,000 approximately.
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