I-League may take tips from ISL

The real defining moment for the I-League will come when the moment of announcing the stadium attendance will have to be announced. During the Federation Cup the best between, Sporting Clube De Goa and East Bengal, match could only sell 150 tickets at a stadium that can officially accommodate more than 19,000 spectators. In the times of the Indian Super League, the audience attendance seems to be quite embarrassing. One of the senior officials of All India Football Federation (AIFF) said that there should be a strong line of marketing strategies. 

Peter, Vaz of Sporting Clube De Goa, commented that the AIFF should give marketing of I-League a serious thought. I-League should take tips from ISL and AIFF should take the help of IMG – Reliance who had publicized ISL so well that it had drawn huge crowds for most matches. AIFF President Praful Patel is putting his best to improve the standards of the I-League which he called the mainstay of Indian Football. The efforts of three Goan clubs and Bengaluru FC cannot be undermined in this regard. 

The three Goan clubs who have joined the brigade are Sporting Clube de Goa, Salgaocar FC and Dempo Sports Club who have devised their own marketing strategy of their own. The promotion plan includes putting up hoardings, road shows, banners, leaflets, player cut-outs at prominent traffic islands in major cities of India. The tickets for the matches have been kept nominal of Rs. 100 for the west stand and Rs. 50  for all the other stands, where as the air-conditioned corporate boxes would be available on demand.

Bengaluru FC, on the other hand, chose to popularize their initiatives through social media marketing to engage their fans and has moved to the recently renovated by Kanteerva Stadium. According to Salgaocar Coach Derrick Perriera said that the standard of the football will be high this year. Under Praful Patel profile as the AIFF Chief, lots of good coaches are coming in and the teams are playing football in a more structured manner. 

Considering their performance at the Hero Federation Cup, Bengaluru FC and Dempo are expected to be engaged in a head-on competition for this year’s title. On the other hand East Bengal and Mohun Bagan depending on what strategies they are taking up off the fields.