NZ vs AUS Finals: Empty stadium shocks organisers – How often do you see a cricket match in Asian countries being played in 30-35% of the capacity? In India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, national team matches bring full capacity. For a tournament final, organisers fail to match demands for tickets. But the T20 World Cup Final between New Zealand and Australia was a real shocker and an embarrassment for the ICC, BCCI and ECB as only 30-35% of the Dubai International Stadium was full.
With the UAE authorities allowing a full capacity stadium for the T20 World Cup Final, BCCI, ICC and the Emirates Cricket Board expected a high demand for tickets. Considering the stadium only has a capacity of 25,000, the organisers didn’t expect anything less than that. However, the final saw empty patches everywhere and looked like an associate nation playing and it was not a World Cup final. The stadium was about 30-35% full.
NZ vs AUS Finals: World Cup SHOCKER, less fans – more empty seats witnessing the final
T20 World Cup Final: Did Dubai fans lose interest?
The matches of India, Pakistan and Afghanistan were full to the brink. There were even crowd troubles outside the Dubai stadium with many Afghan fans trying to break into the stadium. But with all Asian teams knocked out, fans lost interest and left both BCCI and ICC embarrassed.
“The most important match of the year is bring played and the Dubai International Stadium is nearly empty. This is what international cricket looks like without South Asian fans (more so if neither team is a home team); utterly depressing atmosphere,” a fan tweeted.
The way Crowd has shown no interest in Dubai Stadium , it doesn’t look its a #T20WorldCup Final.#AusVsNZ #NZvAUS #T20WorldCup21 pic.twitter.com/26Y3ToignC
— Zeeshan Qayyum (@XeeshanQayyum) November 14, 2021
NZ vs AUS Finals: World Cup SHOCKER, less fans – more empty seats witnessing the final
Cricket hum (India, Pakistan) say hii chalta hai. Hamaray baghair cricket aisay hi hai jaisay aaj WC final may ye khali stadium. #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/zcwdPMRScT
— Sanaullah Siddiqui 🐣 (@Sanaullah_Si) November 14, 2021
The fact that neither Australia nor New Zealand were pre-tournamnet favourites also made an impact on the attendance. Even though both sides boast of some world-famous T20 players, they do not have the power to attract crowds like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma or Babar Azam. And even though the broadcaster tried to hide the best it could, the images spoke volumes about the lack of interest.
This final has no worth & going to benefit nothing to @ICC 😂Any one team from Asia 🌏 then this stadium 🏟 has full.#AUSvNZ #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/fDWdEgmg3Q
— MR/KGSB (@MrKgking) November 14, 2021
NZ vs AUS Finals: World Cup SHOCKER, less fans – more empty seats witnessing the final
Empty stadium 🏟️
Imagine if Pakistan in the final
#T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/xTkBX94Rs9— Muhammad Jamlish Roy (@jamlishsays) November 14, 2021
The other factor that could have gone against the organisers was a mild earthquake before the final. At 4:30 PM local time, three hours before the final, Dubai witnessed a 6.2-magnitude earthquake. Office and residential buildings were evacuated for precaution. That could have also played a major role.
NZ vs AUS Finals: World Cup SHOCKER, less fans – more empty seats witnessing the final
However, the IPL 2021 Final was a different matter. The Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders match at the same Dubai International Stadium was full to the brink. BCCI and the ECB struggled to manage high demands for tickets. Don’t believe us? Check the picture below. The IPL 2021 Final had a full crowd at DIS.
The crowd was so loud that MS Dhoni had to ask Ian Bishop to repeat his question at the toss. “I can’t hear you,” the CSK skipper said.
On Sunday, it was missing and barring a sparse crowd that gathered to cheer Australia and New Zealand, it wasn’t difficult to hear players speak on the field.
NZ vs AUS Finals: World Cup SHOCKER, less fans – more empty seats witnessing the final
The numbers might increase in the coming few hours. But come on, where are the “Passion playing for country T20I” gang hiding? Can’t recall such a dull crowd for an IPL final https://t.co/iQiNOeob4B
— 1 in 100 (@NipBackers) November 14, 2021
