Messi in India: Being part of the tour is a matter of individual choice; reflects growth of India's evolving experiences sector

Posters of Lionel Messi along a roadside ahead of his 'GOAT Tour India 2025' at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan stadium, in Kolkata. (Courtesy: PTI photo)

The Lionel Messi tour is finally upon us. For weeks and months there has been a build up. Much gloss has been added and finally the day is here. The global superstar arrived in Kolkata late last night and will be involved in a number of events today starting at 10am. He will also inaugurate a 70 feet statue of his, virtually, and then proceed to the Salt Lake stadium for a series of programmes.

The question that many have asked me is how will this help Indian sport. The point is it is not being done to help Indian football per se. The job of the organisers is not to help Indian football. That’s the remit of the AIFF. This is much like a concert being done by a promoter who does events for a living. And everyone should consume it as such.

Some have also asked me if the price points are too high. The truth is it could well be. But then IPL tickets or hospitality boxes or Wimbledon debenture seats don’t ever come cheap and FIFA world cup hospitality packages are as expensive. It is entirely on the individual concerned to decide whether or not to spend money and be part of this experience.

That’s what brings me to the hospitality and tourism sector. Experiences to be more exact. India has taken a giant stride in the domain and the number of sponsors as part of this tour is evidence. There are corporates and banks and sports tourism companies and that in itself is a reflection of where the Indian market stands at the moment with regards sports consumption. The Messi tour is more a spectacle than a football event and the market has responded well to it.

Let me also say that there is no good or bad here. Some might say this is frivolous. They may well be right from their standpoint. How can anyone spend Rs 10 lakh on a meet and greet. But then they have a choice. Everyone has. If you don’t want to, please don’t. But that doesn’t mean that someone who has and will perhaps buy his son or daughter the experience is wrong. No one is right or wrong. It is about individual choices and consumption patterns and we need to respect both sides of the coin.

The one thing I wish to state here is the importance of security and crowd management. We know what events like these can do. We know mobs can get out of control. We know things can get out of hand in very quick time. That’s what the organisers and promoters need to guard against and make sure. We have seen what can happen when things do go out of control earlier this year. Young men and women who had come to enjoy the RCB win did not return home. We don’t want anything remotely close to happen with the Messi tour.

Here’s wishing everyone a happy Messi experience and the tour a success. For those who are a part of it, it will create memories. For those who don’t agree with it, there is a lot out there for you to focus on.