IPL shows fans have transformed into active participants
Hindustan TimesPlayers grab all attention but cricket is sustained by fans, it’s a solid vote bank. With fans voting for cricket, matches are repeatedly sold out, TV viewership keeps rising and sponsors happily write out big cheques. Fans during the first match of IPL T20 2019 Cricket Tournament between Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challenges Bangalore at MAC Stadium in Chennai, Saturday, March 23, 2019 Fans are the core of cricket’s multi-crore commercial universe and its expanding ecosystem. IPL, given its commercial character, realised it needed fans as allies for monetising media rights, building team loyalty and attracting fun-loving spectators to the cricket carnival. Fuelled by fan interest, internet penetration, low data rates and smart phone usage, fantasy sports companies are booming.