Goan I-League clubs unveil initiatives to market home matches

Panaji:The three Goan I-League clubs today unveiled new marketing strategies as they gear up for the country’s premier compeititon starting January 17.
Former champions Dempo and Salgaocar as well Sporting Clube de Goa came together to launch a joint marketing initiative in a bid to get the fans, specially those from the villages, back to the stadium for the I-League.
The promotion plans include putting up hoardings, road shows, banners, leaflets, flyers, player cut-outs, etc. This is the first time that all Goan clubs have come together to promote their home matches of the I-League.
Road shows have been planned a day prior to the match and also on the day of the match to create the desired awareness, while player cut-outs will be put up at prominent traffic islands in major cities.
To facilitate availability of tickets to the fans, the same will be put up for sale in advance at various outlets in villages and cities which will be branded with I-League signage in addition to the box office at the stadium.
The tickets will be priced at Rs 50 for North, South and East stands and Rs 100 for West stand. Besides air-conditioned corporate/hospitality boxes will also be made available as per demand.
Tickets will be available in advance initially for eight matches to be played in January and February. Matches , which will be telecast live will start at 4.30 pm and 7 pm. All other matches will begin at 5.30 pm.
Salgaocar play the first home match on the opening day of the I-league on January 17 against Pune FC at 4.30 pm, while Sporting Clube de Goa meet East Bengal the next day at 7 pm.
The three Clubs have appealed to the Goan clubs to support the teams by turning up at the stadium. Present at the launch of the promotional activities were the patrons of the three clubs, Salgaocar’s Shivanand Salgaocar, Dempo’s Shrinivas Dempo and Peter Vaz of Sporting Clube de Goa.
Salgaocar admitted that all the while his club targeted youth development and was now applying mind on the marketing aspect of the game. Praising the IMG-Reliance combine at the successful marketing of the Indian Super League (ISL), he said the I-League need to be given a similar direction. “We need to try and replicate the ISL.”
Though the ISL needs quality players, Salgaocar said he can’t see real youth development arising out of ISL.
Citing the example of Bengaluru, who won last year’s I-League, Salgaocar said the corporate interest is growing in football. Peter Vaz, whose club has relied more on home-grown players, was optimistic that the I-League this year would be highly competitive. (PTI)