Caught in the spirit

The 10th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will arrive in Bengaluru this weekend. The first match in the city is between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Delhi Daredevils. The scores of cricket fans, milling around at ticket counters of the Chinnaswamy Stadium prior to the match, are an indicator that the fun-filled game has already begun.

The ticket rates for most of the lounges have been increased from the last season and the interiors of each lounge appear distinct. The events team of the IPL believes that it is not just the game that must be entertaining, but also that the interiors and the food menu need to match up to the occasion, to offer the spectators an unforgettable experience. To start with, the tickets are priced high for the lounges that offer five-star hospitality.

“The highest price point of the ticketing slab offers a luxury viewing experience and facility of food from five-star hotels along with a variety of beverages,” informs the official RCB spokesperson. He adds, “The seats that cost Rs 4,000 and above will have lavish benefits for fans because these are the hospitality stands that are specially designed, keeping in mind a memorable viewing experience. For tickets in the category of Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,000, limited food and beverage options will be available.

Those from Rs 9,000 to Rs 37,000 will have unlimited three-star and five-star food and beverage options, depending on the seating arrangement.”

There will be six hospitality stands/ lounges in different categories such as Gionee-P2, Kingfisher-P Corporate, Lloyd-Pavilion Terrace, Lloyd Fan Terrace N, Kingfisher E Executive, Himalaya Men-D Corporate, Jio B (lower and upper) and Kingfisher-C Upper. “We started work on doing up the lounges a fortnight before the IPL. We have played around with the RCB jersey colours — red, gold and black — to give every lounge a different character and theme,” says one of the organisers of the IPL matches in Bengaluru.

The exorbitant ticket rates don’t seem to bother IPL fans who say that going to the match is an entertaining and de-stressing affair. Jitesh Pamnani, an IT professional, says, “I am a Mumbai Indian fan and my craze for the IPL started with my love for Sachin Tendulkar. Even after he has retired, the spirit of the team remains intact.”

He has already bought the ticket to watch the match between RCB and Mumbai Indians. “I find RCB to be the most entertaining team of the tournament. Also, watching M S Dhoni in action for Rising Pune Supergiants (RPS) is a treat in itself,” says Jitesh. 

Rupesh Dutta, another RCB fan, says, “The format is short and I don’t mind paying more for the experience and the luxury offered within the stands. It’s not always that you get to watch your favourite cricket stars live in action. If I manage to get the tickets, then I hope to watch all the matches that are held in Bengaluru.”