The highly anticipated Cricket World Cup 2023 kicked off at the monumental Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad with England taking on New Zealand in the opening match. Despite boasting a world-record capacity of 130,000 spectators, the stadium appeared disconcertingly empty, leaving fans worldwide bewildered.
Social media platforms were abuzz with cricket enthusiasts voicing their astonishment at the sight of numerous vacant seats in the colossal stadium during the tournament's inauguration.
Fans took to platforms like X (formerly known as Twitter) to share their reactions, with many expressing disappointment in the organizers for what they perceived as a lackluster start to cricket's premier event.
The Narendra Modi Stadium is renowned as the largest cricket stadium globally, second only to the capacity of the Rungrado 1st of May Stadium in North Korea, which is primarily used for non-cricket events.
Considering the immense popularity of cricket in India, the sight of more than 100,000 empty seats during the opening match was perplexing to many.
Check out the reactions of the fans
🏏 The #WorldCup2023 kicks off with a whimper in the #ENGvNZ opening match; zero percent crowd, an #EmptyStadium, and lack of interest leave #cricket enthusiasts disappointed
— Samaa Sports (@samaasport) October 5, 2023
Let's hope the excitement picks up as the tournament progresses! #CricketWorldCup #EmptyStadium pic.twitter.com/rystTyVZwz
Disappointing to see World Cup opening in front of just a few hundred spectators in Ahmedabad. Very disappointing https://t.co/T4nA6EdVzK pic.twitter.com/lr0Sof8Rsw
— F (@falahtah) October 5, 2023
Not a great look for the World Cup 🏟️👀
— Sport360° (@Sport360) October 5, 2023
Should Ahmedabad have hosted the opening game? 🤔#CWC23 #ENGvNZ pic.twitter.com/Xo67Qor4Sd
REALLY DISAPPOINTING TO SEE EMPTY AHMEDABAD 😌
— Qadir Khawaja (@iamqadirkhawaja) October 5, 2023
THE WORLD LARGEST CRICKET STADIUM WITH ULTRA INVISIBLE TECHNOLOGY GREAT,,,,itni awaam kaha sy agai kis golay sy agai,,,,
بھارتی شائیقین کرکٹ نے مایوس کیا#Ahmedabad #jayshah #BCCI #ENGvNZ pic.twitter.com/9LYji2f5zY
Empty stadium and lack of interest. They were asking this for Asia Cup lekin yeh toh World Cup hay 👀
— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) October 5, 2023
If this was IPL's opening match toh stadium full hota. Why did you host this match in Ahmedabad then? Kya mila is se? 🤦🏼♂️🤦🏼♂️ #CricketWorldCup2023 #CWC23pic.twitter.com/A8UZgeVRvs
A complete empty stadium in Ahmedabad, is India the right place to host the WC?? https://t.co/pPijiwPzQc pic.twitter.com/Chd3loiF14
— Ahsan Shehzad🇵🇰🇵🇸 (@Ahsan_Shehzad_) October 5, 2023
The organizers of the Cricket World Cup 2023 have yet to respond to the widespread criticism and the empty seats issue.
The tournament continues with hopes that future matches will draw the enthusiastic crowds that cricket fans worldwide have come to expect from this prestigious event.
