Ahead of he IPL 2023 Final, scheduled to take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the venue witnessed a chaotic situation due to mismanagement of the ticketing process by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The absence of clear communication regarding offline ticket collection resulted in a stampede outside the venue, creating an unfortunate incident before the summit clash.
While no official announcement was made regarding offline ticket collection, those who had booked their tickets online were instructed to present the QR code at the Box Office to receive physical copies of their tickets. On Thursday, May 25, the box office window opened from 11 am to 6 pm, leading to a gathering of hundreds of people outside the stadium.
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The situation quickly spiraled into a mess, prompting local police intervention to manage the crowd effectively. As fans flocked to the venue in large numbers, they were left waiting in the sweltering heat for their turn to collect their tickets.
According to the official notice, physical ticket collection would not be possible on match days, including May 26, when the Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians were scheduled to compete in Qualifier 2. The Box Office would reopen on May 27 to allow people to collect their tickets in person.
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With the stadium’s capacity exceeding one lakh, there was a high likelihood of a similar scene unfolding on Saturday as well. The mismanagement of the ticketing process not only caused inconvenience to the fans but also posed a significant safety risk.
Here are the videos of the incident:
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The BCCI should take immediate steps to rectify the situation and ensure that appropriate measures are in place to handle ticket distribution efficiently in the future. By implementing better communication strategies and adopting a well-organized approach, such incidents can be avoided, providing a more enjoyable experience for cricket enthusiasts attending IPL matches.
