With Navratri And Wedding Season, India-Pakistan Clash Will Rake In Big Moola In Ahmedabad

Call it “rake the moola”;  that’s the name of the game in the hospitality industry in Ahmedabad,  the most favoured destination for the marquee matches of the ICC World Cup to be played in India from October 5 to November 19. After the World Cup schedule was announced on July 27 in Mumbai, the room tariffs across star hotels skyrocketed, with many travel agency apps displaying “sold out or not available” messages.  The biggest match of the 48 will take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium on  October 15 (the first day of Navaratri), when the arch-rivals India and Pakistan lock horns, which has a potential billing for around one lakh spectators plus.  Rough estimates have put the hospitality industry to run a turnover close to Rs 1000 crore, with Ahmedabad set to host the opening game (England v New Zealand ), the India v Pakistan match, Australia v England,  South Africa v Afghanistan and the final.  With spectators likely to travel from the USA and UK for the Navratri festival and the wedding season, the home town of India’s Prime Minister and Home Minister is all set for a gala time. The World Cup final of 2011 returned Rs 22 crore to the Mumbai Cricket Association from gate receipts; 12 years later, the Gujarat Cricket Association with a lakh-plus capacity will laugh its way to the Bank!