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ENG vs NZ World Cup Match: Netizens react to half-empty Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad

The inaugural match of ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 is taking place at the Narendra Modi Stadium between England and New Zealand.

Published on: Oct 5, 2023, 17:15:20 IST
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ICC World Cup 2023: One of the biggest sports events of the world kicked off just hours ago with the opening match being played between England and New Zealand. The inaugural match is taking place at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the world’s largest cricket stadium. Though there was much excitement about the match, surprisingly, the turnover at the stadium has been incredibly low. Social media, especially X, is flooded with pictures of the almost empty stadium. Many have also expressed their displeasure stating that despite the stadium being half-empty the online ticket booking platforms showed “sold out” prompts for the tickets.

ENG vs NZ World Cup Match: The image shows an almost-empty stadium in Ahmedabad. (Screengrab)
ENG vs NZ World Cup Match: The image shows an almost-empty stadium in Ahmedabad. (Screengrab)

Here’s how X users reacted to the situation at Narendra Modi Stadium:

X user Rajiv wrote, “Hi Bookmyshow and BCCI, whom did you sell the tickets if the whole stadium is empty! As per your website, tickets were sold but then how whole stadium is empty?” In a follow-up tweet, the user added, “As per Bookmyshow, tickets for the England vs New Zealand match got sold out within minutes! People were so crazy to watch this game that more than 1,00,000 tickets were sold out within minutes! But then, whom did they sell the tickets to? Are ghosts watching matches?” The X user also shared an image of the almost empty stadium.

“Disappointing to see the World Cup opening in front of just a few hundred spectators in Narendra Modi Stadium Ahmedabad. Empty stadium,” added another. A third expressed, “A completely empty Stadium in Ahmedabad.”

A few, however, argued that considering the huge size of the stadium, even a good turnout would make it look empty. Some expressed that the crowd is less as it is not a match being played by team India.

Also Read: All you need to know about ODI World Cup 2023: New rules, format, reserve day availability

Here’s how X users reacted:

“That's a 130k capacity stadium. It will look empty even with a 40k crowd,” wrote an X user. “Please remember that the stadium has a massive 132,000 seats. Even if it's just 10% full, that's still around 13,200 people, which is the usual crowd for these teams, with such a huge stadium, it might still look empty,” joined another. “Bro the main reason is that Narendra Modi Stadium is too big and the second reason is of course it is a non-Indian match. Ahmedabad's hotels are already pre-booked,” expressed a third.

  • Trisha Sengupta
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Trisha Sengupta

    Trisha Sengupta works as Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over six years of experience in the digital newsroom. Known for her ability to decode the internet’s most talked-about moments, she specialises in high-engagement storytelling that bridges the gap between viral trends and traditional journalism. Throughout her tenure, Trisha has focused on the intersection of technology, finance, and human emotion. She frequently covers personal finance and real estate struggles in hubs like Gurgaon, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, while also documenting the unique challenges of the NRI experience. Her work often highlights the movements and philosophies of global newsmakers and personalities like Elon Musk, Mukesh Ambani, Nikhil Kamath, Dubai crown prince, and MrBeast. From reporting on Amazon or Meta layoffs and startup culture to the emergence of AI-driven platforms like Grok and xAI, she provides a grounded and empathetic perspective on the stories shaping our world. When not decoding the internet, Trisha is likely offline: lost in a book, exploring a historical ruin, or navigating the world as a solo traveler. She balances her fast-paced career with family time and a healthy dose of curiosity, currently trading her "human" sources for silicon ones as she masters AI to future-proof her storytelling.Read More

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