#SAS24 Speaker Preview: Transforming Fan Experiences with World-Class Sports Infrastructure

In this interview ahead of #SAS24, Ranjit Barthakur, Chairperson of the Rajasthan Royals shares his insights on the current landscape of sports, with a focus on cricket. Barthakur highlights the critical challenges and vast opportunities that lie ahead, particularly in infrastructure development.

TheStadiumBusiness ASIA: What are the key current challenges and opportunities in your marketplace?

Ranjit Barthakur:

The key current challenges and opportunities in the marketplace pertaining to sport and mainly to cricket, revolve majorly around the lack of world-class and state-of-the-art infrastructure and accessibility to that infrastructure in most non-metros and some metros. And I really think that the challenge itself is an opportunity, and that’s really what we need to grab. 

The trends seem to indicate that cricket has become a global sport. In India, the penetration into rural areas has been phenomenal. So, I believe that the opportunities are enormous for the entire value chain of sports, from sports equipment to playing fields to stadiums to fan engagement and to the entire delivery of happiness and wellness through sports. 

SAS: What’s on the roadmap for Rajasthan Royals over the next 6-12 months?

RB: Rajasthan Royals’ focus is on cricket. That’s our core product. But diverting a bit from that, you need a great value chain and accessibility to sporting arenas which provide an enhanced and engaging experience to both the players and the fans. You need an entire ecosystem which supports that. Therefore, like I said, what we need is a great academy, great equipment, and we need great playing fields. That will enable us to engage even more fans, who will be even happier than they are today. We want to create the best infrastructure and best fan experience.

SAS: What are you looking forward to at the conference?

RB: At the conference, you try to exchange ideas and learn from others. So we are very keen to understand: can we have a multi-purpose stadium, can we partner with others, both financially and for delivery of that, and understand new models which enable us to bring down the investment, but also make it affordable and available to fans from all walks of life. So, a conversation on this would be great. We also want to invite as many people as possible to come to our main home, Jaipur and Guwahati, to see how they can partner with us.

This week, hundreds of sports and entertainment executives will be gathering – in Kai Tak, Hong Kong, from 16-18 October 2024 as we explore the future of design, operations, and technology for Asia’s sports and entertainment venues… only at TheStadiumBusiness ASIA 2024.

Registrations are now closed, but you can register your interest for #SAS25.