Is Knightriders Taking Sharookh Khan for a Ride?

 

Cricket is not my area of competence to comment, but, I could not refrain from placing this blog after watching the fun being provided freely  by Knightriders, a team for Indian Premier League.

Mr Sharookh Khan seems to be devastated by the poor response his Knightriders are getting from Calcuttan’s in terms of sale of tickets, for the matches to be played at Eden Garden stadium, Calcutta. Of the 87,000 seats capacity stadium. Only 5000 tickets could be sold  during the last three days. He has expressed his unhappiness about the whole issue in an interview with Anand Baazar Patrika.

He has told the newspaper that, he was given a rosy picture about the entire premier league and how easy, it is to make a big Moola out of it. He stated that  would loose at least a Crore of Rupees on every single day a match is held at Eden Gardens. Mr. Sharookh Khan, further expressed his disappointment that the local CPM Govt has not given entertainment tax exception for his planned Bollywood show during the cricket match. He also expressed that, he has never appealed to his fans to buy tickets of his films till date, but, now pleaded them to buy tickets to bail  him out.

His troubles don’t seems to end with this, a whopping 31,000 tickets were on sale for various affiliated clubs, who otherwise would get tickets free of cost for all official matches,  being part of Eden Garden  stadium donors list. None were too enthusiastic to subscribe for tickets, which otherwise would have come free to them. Understand, few have already approached courts to restore their rights.

However, my comments are to do with the  approach of Mr. Sharookh Khan on  the subject.

Mr. Sharookh Khan has chosen a team for a location, which is emotional about cricket and takes great pride in whatever they do. However, the greatest blunder he has committed is to negate the team’s identification with Calcutta. Unpardonable blunder.

There is total disconnect of local people clearly visible in  the promotional advertisements for the Knightriders.

There is no visible sports icon in his advertisements, with whom the locals would associate, even local Hero  Mr Saurav Gangully  is missing from those advertisements.

All advts have only Sharookh and rest all as mere helmets, further alienating the local public ……

I have lived in Calcutta for few months, I am aware how strongly people get connected with Cricket….an apathy for Knightriders….as the sale of tickets confirm…...speaks of total disconnect with the Brand Sharookh……, which Mr. Sharookh Khan should have gauged it by now.

The expression of dismay at an early stage, also gives rise to serious doubts about credential of Mr. Sharookh Khan as a businessman, which, he proudly claimed a month ago, when asked if he was wise enough to pick a team for a high stakes game of cricket. Someone should have told him about the basics of business process …..There is a time period called … gestation period…….for any business to give returns. Shockingly, he is unaware.

He over-estimated his strength as a selling point, whereas, in reality, cricket sells only on cricketers charisma.

The comments placed on some of the Dot com’s on this issue are worth reading…few samples I have placed for the readers to understand…..how and what people think?

I presume Cricket makes more money on Advertisements than on gate collections, this elementary knowledge Knightriders must have be aware.

I think its not too late to project Cricket and cricketers along with Calcutta  as a theme……Mr. Sharookh Khan …..should take a back seat ….. should know, he needs a great story, good songs, exotic locations, good makeup  and a big multicast along with a good director  to give him a hit. He is surely not a brand like Mr. Amitabh Bachan or for that matter Mr. Amir Khan to shoulder the  success.

I feel few Phds can be awarded in the field of marketing, for analyzing the above case study and learn about  how to loose on a  potential money making proposition, Sharookh style ?

( Sharookh = Sharukh, it was deliberate.....lol)

Comments On The Net
 

SRK SUCKS!


Khan told the Kolkata paper. "I am truly finding it difficult to accept this. I have never, till date, requested my fans to go and see my films. Never ever done it". I TRUELY HAVEN'T SEEN A BIGGER LIER THAN HIM. HE WAS ON ALL THE CHANNELS PLEADING FANS TO MAKE OM SHANTHI OM THE BIGGEST HIT. THIS MAN SUCKS. IN A WAY HE DESERVES THIS....THOUGHT HE CAN MINT MONEY EVEN THROUGH THIS GAME.

I never ask my fans


He says he never asked his fans to go and see his movies.What was he doing with Deepika Padukone during India Australia match.It was a publicity stunt only.He needed all the publicity at that time as his movie was pitted against Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Saawariyan.

How could SRK be such a terrible Businessman ? And, why on Earth should such entertainment be Tax Free. Is it some National Honour being showcased. Dear SRK, you want to throw in entertainment to make money, and you do not want to part anything to the State?

Your earlier Biz dream of making thousands of Ladies Public Toilets would make more sense than flogging old horses with new ones that too not from India alone. What a National shame ? And Tax Free for such shame?