An Airbnb listing named “Motera Cricket Stadium Home Furnished 6 Bed-2 BHK” advertises its proximity to the stadium, stating it’s just “250 meters” away. This accommodation is available for Rs 81,000 per night.
The post-Covid era is anticipated to bring a significant boom to the hospitality industry, particularly in Ahmedabad, which is set to be inundated with cricket enthusiasts. This surge in demand is due to the city hosting five matches of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 starting next month.
Hotels have responded by dramatically increasing their room rates, some even by tenfold, while Airbnb listings reflect prices that have surged up to twentyfold for October 14, when India faces Pakistan at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Motera.
For example, an apartment featured on Airbnb, boasting its proximity as “250 meters” from the stadium, goes by the name “Motera Cricket Stadium Home Furnished 6 Bed-2 BHK” and commands a rate of Rs 81,000 per night.
Rishav Poddar, one of the Airbnb hosts offering a “weekend getaway living on the periphery of Ahmedabad,” has even gone a step further by providing free transportation from the stadium to his property. He describes his 6,000-square-yard villa with three bedrooms and additional rooms to accommodate guests. While the property is listed at Rs 35,000 per night on the website, booking it for the same day as the match, October 14, would require a hefty payment of Rs 1,21,500.
Similarly, Jainam Shah, who lists a villa in Sanand on Airbnb, plans to charge Rs 55,000 per night on October 13 and 14, a significant increase from the usual rate of Rs 19,371 per night. He explains that their pricing strategy adapts dynamically in response to demand and search patterns on the website.
Ahmedabad is hosting an ICC event for the first time, and these matches represent some of the most significant fixtures in this year’s World Cup. Among them, the England vs. New Zealand match on October 5 at the Narendra Modi Stadium stands out, taking place after the opening ceremony. However, the highlight of the city’s cricket calendar is the India vs. Pakistan clash on October 14, the sole confirmed match featuring India in Ahmedabad, unless the team progresses to the finals.
